NTSB Report Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in California

April 27, 2008

NTSB Report Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in California

NTSB Report: SEA08CA124.
Bell 206B Helicoter Crash in California14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 27, 2008 in Murietta, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/30/2008
Aircraft: Bell 206B, registration: N526DL
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

The commercial pilot was receiving instruction and reported that during the seventh practice full touchdown autorotation, the helicopter touched down on the aft part of the landing skids and started to rock forward. He stated he applied aft cyclic to prevent the helicopter from rolling forward, and one of the main rotor blades subsequently struck the tail boom. The flight instructor said that he was unable to react in time to level the helicopter prior to touchdown. Examination of the helicopter revealed structural damage to the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the flight control system. The pilot stated in the “How could this accident have been prevented?” section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form, “proper execution of a full down autorotation by fully leveling the aircraft before touchdown.”

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A contributing factor to the accident was the dual student’s improper flare.

 

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NTSB Report Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in California

NTSB Report # SEA08CA124.Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in California 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 27, 2008 in Murietta, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/30/2008
Aircraft: Bell 206B, registration: N526DL
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

The commercial pilot was receiving instruction and reported that during the seventh practice full touchdown autorotation, the helicopter touched down on the aft part of the landing skids and started to rock forward. He stated he applied aft cyclic to prevent the helicopter from rolling forward, and one of the main rotor blades subsequently struck the tail boom. The flight instructor said that he was unable to react in time to level the helicopter prior to touchdown. Examination of the helicopter revealed structural damage to the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the flight control system. The pilot stated in the “How could this accident have been prevented?” section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form, “proper execution of a full down autorotation by fully leveling the aircraft before touchdown.”

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A contributing factor to the accident was the dual student’s improper flare.

 

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April 23, 2008

NTSB Report - Hughes 269 Crash Killeen, Texas

NTSB Report # DFW08CA114.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, April 23, 2008 in Killeen, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 5/28/2008
Aircraft: Hughes 269A, registration: N9064N
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

While practicing an autorotation maneuver, the pilot rolled the throttle back on and began a power recovery before reducing the throttle to continue the autorotation. The helicopter’s airspeed decreased to approximately 40 knots at 300 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot attempted to go-around but was unable to increase the rotor RPM (rotations per minute.) The helicopter continued to sink as the flight instructor attempted to increase power and reduce the sink rate. The flight instructor lowered the helicopter’s nose in an attempt to increase airspeed. At 50 feet AGL the pilot reported that a gust of wind decreased the helicopter’s airspeed further resulting in an increased sink rate. The flight instructor flared the helicopter as it approached the ground. The helicopter contacted the ground and rolled coming to rest on its side.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor RPM and a safe rate of descent during the autorotation. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.

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April 15, 2008

Eurocopter AS350 B2 Crash in Chickaloon, Arkansas

NTSB Report: ANC08FA053 Eurocopter Crash
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Tuesday, April 15, 2008 in Chickaloon, AK
Aircraft: Eurocopter France AS350B2, registration: N213EH
Injuries: 4 Fatal, 1 Serious. 

On April 15, 2008, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopter, N213EH, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain, about 34 miles east of Chickaloon, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by ERA Helicopters LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries, and one passenger received serious injuries. A mixture of visual and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. The helicopter departed Anchorage about 0805, and company flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 17, a communications technician who got off the helicopter before the accident, said he was dropped off at a remote communications site about 0900, and that the helicopter went to another site with other technicians aboard. He said the helicopter was to return in about four hours. When it did not, he said he contacted his shop.

Following a series of events, a search for the helicopter was initiated. The helicopter’s wreckage was located by searchers on steep, snow-covered terrain, about one mile from the second communication site. NOTE: This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

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April 2, 2008

NTSB Accident Report - Robinson R44 II

NTSB Accident Report #  NYC08CA083.
14 CFR Part 91: General AviationRobinson R44 Helicopter Crash in New York
Accident occurred Tuesday, January 15, 2008 in Fenner, NY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/31/2008
Aircraft: Robinson R44 II, registration: N122AA
Injuries: 1 Minor, 3 Uninjured.The pilot of the Robinson R44 II was on the final leg of a visual flight rules (VFR) flight when, about 18 miles from the destination airport, he obtained a special VFR clearance from the approach controller due to snow showers in the area. The clearance was later canceled by the controller due to “saturation,” and the pilot was told not to enter the area, which was several miles ahead. The pilot then turned the helicopter around and entered a “near zero/zero whiteout,” but during the “tight” turn the attitude indicator “tumbled.” The pilot then elected to perform a precautionary landing to a plowed field below. As the helicopter contacted the ground, the skids sunk into the soft terrain, and the aft portion of the tailboom and the skids separated from the fuselage. The weather reported at the destination airport at the time of the accident included 1 1/2 statute miles visibility in light snow and mist.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot’s delayed decision to perform a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility in snow and the soft terrain.

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