Monthly Accident and Incident Data for the Month of January 2014
WPR14LA084 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 1 UNINJURED
On January 1, 2014 about 1507
Pacific standard time, a Eurocopter EC- 130, N133GC, landed hard during an autorotation, while on short final at the Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada. The commercial pilot was the sole person on board and was not injured. The helicopter came to rest on its right side and sustained sub- stantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The aircraft was registered to a pri- vate company, and operated by a com- mercial operator under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions pre- vailed for the post-maintenance check flight. No flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed about 1457. In a written statement, the pilot
reported that she completed the post- maintenance operational check flight and was on short final to BVU, about 200 feet above the ground with an airspeed of 40 to 50 knots. Shortly thereafter, the fuel pressure indicator light illuminated and the engine "flamed out." The pilot stated that she lowered the collective to initiate an autorotation, but did not have the air- speed to successfully complete it. The helicopter's tail boom impacted
the ground first during the accident sequence, followed by the hard landing. The helicopter's skids separated and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was relocated to a secured area for further examination.
CEN14LA103 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 UNINJURED On January 5, 2014, about 1000 cen-
tral standard time, a Bell 430 helicopter, N430CT, sustained substantial damage during landing when the tail rotor struck a handrail on the crane davit on the West Delta 109 oil platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot and passenger were
46 March 2014
not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by a commercial operator under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a busi- ness flight. Visual meteorological condi- tions prevailed at the time of the accident. The helicopter departed the MP313 oil platform about 0930, and was on a com- pany visual flight rules flight plan.
CEN14GA109 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 1 SERIOUS, 2 MINOR
On January 10, 2014, about 0815
central standard time, an American Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter, N3948A, impacted trees and terrain after an emer- gency descent near Falfurrias, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the two crew members sustained minor injuries. The helicopter sustained sub- stantial damage. The helicopter was reg- istered and operated by a government agency as a public use flight. Visual mete- orological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a CBP flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the McAllen International Airport (KMFE), McAllen, Texas at 0618. A witness reported observing the hel-
icopter 50 - 100 feet above the ground and about 25 feet above the tree tops. The helicopter made an abrupt maneuver and descended into the trees. The helicopter has been retained for
further examination.
ERA14LA099 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 MINOR On January 21, 2014, about 1537
central standard time, a Bell 47D-1, N93067, operated by a private company, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Pell City, Alabama. The commercial pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Day visual mete- orological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the business flight, operated under the provisions of Title 14
Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, which originated at Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama about 1330. According to the pilot, after meeting
his passenger at BHM at 1300 they flew to an area just outside of Pell City, Alabama to look at a newly installed alarm system and to take some aerial photographs of the property. After flying around the property and discussing how they could take the photographs, they landed and retrieved a camera from the "chin area" of the helicopter. The pilot then discussed with the passenger how he could fly along the borders of the prop- erty so the passenger could take the pho- tographs he desired. They then departed and flew "the plan" they had discussed and then returned to the spot where they had landed before. While descending into the confined area for landing, at 25 to 35 feet above ground level, the pilot heard a "snap/pop" and the engine suddenly began "over-revving." The helicopter began descending, and due to the undu- lating terrain that was below them the pilot could only extend the flight slightly forward and, within approximately 3 sec- onds, he had used up all of the available rotor speed. The helicopter then touched down hard. The engine was still running but with no rotor motion. The pilot then shutoff the magnetos and the battery switches and then he and passenger exit- ed the helicopter. Examination of the wreckage by a
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the helicopter was substantially damaged. Approximately 4 feet of the tail section including the tail rotor had separated from the helicopter during the ground impact. The airframe and skid mounting tubes were bent; the acrylic cockpit bubble was cracked and broken. One blade of the two blade main rotor system displayed impact damage, and was bent downward and was broken about midspan. According to FAA and maintenance
Federal Aviation Administration
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