Editor’s Note: Although an accident is painful for all involved, a cursory review of what accidents have occurred are both reflective and instructive. Accident reports give us unique insights into specific flights and situations that may make each of us reflect on our own operations or current flying environment. I encourage pilots, mechanics, crewmembers, and deci- sion makers to make it a habit to study the industry’s recent accident history. If they trigger a higher awareness that saves even one life or one airframe, it will have been worth the read.
normal operation. The pilot stated that the helicopter likely encountered a southerly wind gust during the left turn from an easterly heading, which reduced the amount of available lift from the main rotor enough to allow the helicopter to descend with full engine power and col- lective control. The nearest aviation weather report-
ing station was located at Clayton Municipal Airpark (KCAO), Clayton, New Mexico, about 12 miles south of the acci- dent site. At 1555, the KCAO automated surface observing system reported: wind from 160 degrees at 17 knots, gusting 32 knots; visibility 10 miles; broken ceiling at 8,000 feet above ground level; tempera- ture 31 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 30.22 inches of mercury. At 1553, a peak wind was reported from 170 degrees at 32 knots. The weather station elevation was 4,964 feet mean sea level. The calculated density altitude was 7,721 feet.
WPR13LA390 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 1 SERIOUS, 5 UNINJURED
On August 28, 2013, about 1030
mountain standard time, a Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1, N2018R, sustained sub- stantial damage during an emergency landing, about 12 miles west of the Payson Airport (PAN) Payson, Arizona. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a commercial operator under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries and none of the 5 passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules, flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight departed Scottsdale Airport, Scottsdale, Arizona at 0910, with a planned destina- tion of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, Arizona. The pilot reported a loss of engine
power while in cruise flight at about 1,500 feet, above ground level, and performed
50 October 2013
an autorotation emergency landing. The helicopter landed hard and the tail boom separated.
CEN13LA523 – PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 UNINJURED
daylight
On August 28, 2013, at 0845 central time, a Bell-Transworld
Helicopter Corp. 47G-2, N8051E, impact- ed terrain during a simulated autorotation to a field near Wichita Falls, Texas. The helicopter received substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured. The hel- icopter was registered to and operated by the student pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Wichita Falls, Texas, about 0830.
CEN13FA517 – PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 3 FATAL
On August 31, 2013, about 1200
mountain daylight time, a Robinson R44 II, N3156U, collided with power lines and crashed next to a residence in Williamsburg, New Mexico. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions pre- vailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, about 1145.
Witnesses located across the street
saw the helicopter hovering in front of the home of one of the passengers. They said dust was being stirred up by the rotor wash. The helicopter turned and started to fly away but collided with two service power lines. The on-scene examination
established power train and flight control continuity.
ERA13LA390 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 UNINJURED
On August 31, 2013, about 0950
eastern daylight time, a Continental Copters Inc 47G, N6356X, was substan- tially damaged during a forced landing near Sandy Hook, Kentucky. The com- mercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The helicopter was registered to a commercial operator and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Regulations Part 91 as a posi- tioning flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Morehead, Kentucky (M97) about 0930. As the helicopter was established in
the traffic pattern for landing at a pre- established landing zone, at 300 feet above ground level (AGL), the pilot turned onto final and made a power reduction. The helicopter began to yaw to the right, and then back to the left. The pilot raised the collective and the helicopter yawed again to the right and the pilot felt unusual vibrations. The pilot then attempted an autorotation. He avoided a tree and a parked car and the helicopter landed hard on a gravel road. An inspector with the Federal Aviation
Administration responded to the accident site and inspected the wreckage. There was evidence of main rotor contact with the aft section of the tail boom. The tail boom and main rotor blades sustained structural damage. The most aft section of the tail rotor drive shaft was missing; a search of the area failed to locate the missing component. Manipulation of the tail rotor shaft input at the tail rotor gear- box revealed a lack of continuity to the tail
rotor hub and blades. Fly Safe! Be Safe!
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