Monthly Accident and Incident Data for the Month of August 2013
run-on landing. Unable to maintain direc- tional control before touchdown, he did a forced landing to a grassy area adjacent to the runway. During the forced landing, the helicopter sustained substantial dam- age to fuselage and vertical fin. A detailed examination of the heli-
copter’s anti-torque/tail rotor pitch control system is pending.
CEN13LA487 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 3 UNINJURED
On August 10, 2013, at 1818 central
daylight time, a Bell 206A helicopter, N804LA, rolled over during a forced land- ing in a corn field following a loss of engine power. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The helicop- ter received substantial damage to the tail boom and fuselage. The helicopter was operated as a Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions pre- vailed for the flight, which was not operat- ing on a flight plan. The flight originated from private property in Albers, Illinois, just prior to the accident and was destined for Pevely, Missouri. The pilot reported that shortly after
departing to the north, he leveled the hel- icopter at 600 feet. He initiated a turn to the west and about halfway through the turn the engine lost power. He stated that it seemed as though the throttle rolled back. He located a corn field in which to land and the helicopter rolled onto its left side during the landing. The tail boom was severed from the fuselage during the landing. Both the 100-hour and 300-hour maintenance checks were completed about 2.5 flight hours prior to the accident.
WPR13GA374 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 UNINJURED
On August 12, 2013, about 1400
Pacific daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, N62PJ, sus- tained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power
48 October 2013
near Burns, Oregon. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a commer- cial operator as a public use flight. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological condi- tions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from a staging area about 1245. The pilot reported that during cruise
flight at an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level over mountainous ter- rain, he heard a loud bang originate from the engine followed by an immediate loss of engine power. The pilot performed a 180-degree autorotation and landed hard on a forest service logging road. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed that the tailboom was separated and the left landing skid was separated. The helicopter was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
CEN13LA491- PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 3 MINOR
On August 13, 2013, about 1310 cen-
tral daylight time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N53LP, was ditched on the Gulf of Mexico, following a loss of engine power. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial fuselage damage during the ditching. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a commercial operator under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, as a pas- senger flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The flight originated from Ship Shoals 208, an off-shore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and was destined for another location in the Gulf of Mexico.
CEN13LA507 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 3 MINOR,1 UNINJURED
On August 26, 2013, at 1525 moun-
tain daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company model R44 II helicopter,
N744KA, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Clayton, New Mexico. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 3 passengers sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was regis- tered to and operated by an agriculture operator, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological con- ditions prevailed for the personal flight, which departed Clayton Municipal Airpark (KCAO), Clayton, New Mexico, at 1450. The pilot reported that the purpose of
the flight was to conduct aerial photogra- phy of a nearby location where the pas- sengers had recently hunted. The pilot reported that he was concerned with the density altitude at the departure airport, so he initially loaded only two passengers and completed a takeoff and landing. The helicopter reportedly had no performance issues during the short flight and a third passenger subsequently boarded the hel- icopter. After an uneventful takeoff, the flight proceeded north of the airport toward the location to be photographed. The pilot reported that 25-30 minutes into the flight, the helicopter began to settle (descend under power) while established in a left turn from an easterly heading about 100 feet above the ground. The pilot increased collective control, but the helicopter continued to descend as it approached two sets of power lines. He stated that with full engine power the hel- icopter was able to clear both sets of power lines; however, the low rotor speed warning horn sounded as the helicopter crossed over the second set of power lines. The pilot briefly reduced the collec- tive control to regain rotor speed, but as the helicopter approached the ground he increased collective control in another attempt to arrest the descent. The pilot stated that the helicopter impacted terrain similar to a hard landing, bounced, and rolled over onto its left side. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded
Federal Aviation Administration
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