Monthly Accident and Incident Data for the Month of June 2012
CEN12LA343 – PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 UNINJURED
On June 2, 2012, about 1135 moun-
tain daylight time, a Schweizer 269C heli- copter, N2196F, entered ground reso- nance when it set down on the ramp at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), near Denver, Colorado. The com- mercial pilot and the passenger were uninjured. The helicopter sustained sub- stantial damage to its tail boom during the ground resonance. The helicopter was operated by a commercial operator under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) condi- tions prevailed for the flight, which operat- ed on a company VFR flight plan. The local flight was originating from BJC at the time of the accident The pilot reported that the flight was
an introductory discovery flight for his stu- dent passenger. The pilot indicated that he picked the helicopter up into a two foot skid height hover. An airplane started to taxi in front of the helicopter. The pilot, in part, stated: To avoid my downwash disturbing the
airplane, or his prop wash from disturbing me, I set the helicopter back onto the ground as a courtesy. I set down the left skid first and then the right, utilizing a two point touch down. When the right skid made contact, the helicopter tried to drift to the right. I put slight left cyclic input in to keep the helicopter from drifting to the right as I lowered collective. As I lowered the collective fully and the skids started to settle apart, I noticed a slight low frequen- cy vibration. Immediately, the vibration got worse, and I determined the helicopter was in the beginning phase of ground res- onance. My engine RPM was too low, as was my collective, to pick the helicopter up off the ground to restore the rotor blades to their correct phase in time. With the collective full down, I rolled the throttle to idle to try and get rid of ground reso-
46 August 2012
nance. Within seconds, the helicopter had shaken itself apart. The helicopter landing gear dampners have been retained. A detailed examination of the dampners will be conducted with the helicopter manu- facturer.
ERA12LA379 – PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 5 MINOR
On June 4, 2012, about 0955, east-
ern daylight time, a Bell 427 helicopter, operated by an individual, experienced an inflight bird strike, main rotor vibration, and a hard landing near Indiantown, Florida. The private-rated pilot, commer- cial-rated co-pilot, and 3 passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, business flight. The flight originated from the Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida, about 0930.
The pilot stated they departed PBI for
a destination of Ocala, Florida. Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, while on a heading of 330-degrees and at an altitude of 800 feet mean sea level (msl), he maneuvered the helicopter to avoid colliding with several large birds. The pilot felt something impact the upper right side of the helicopter near the main rotor mast area. Immediately following the impact, the helicopter started shaking vio- lently, and became difficult to control. The pilot elected to land in an open field. Descending through 300 feet msl, the shaking became more pronounce and the helicopter became uncontrollable. About 50 feet msl, the aircraft went into a spin and impacted the ground hard and rolled over on its left side. All onboard were able to exit the helicopter on their own. Postaccident inspection of the heli-
copter by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and a representative of the air- craft manufacturer revealed evidence of
On June 4, 2012, about 0645 Pacific
daylight time, a Hiller UH-12B helicopter, N93467, impacted a tree near Pasco, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the helicopter, which was being oper- ated by a commercial helicopter operator, sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 fruit orchard drying operation was being per- formed in visual meteorological condi- tions. The pilot departed Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, Washington, about 0630. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, who was oper-
ating just above the top of the trees, he was in the process of moving from one section of the orchard to another when he realized the helicopter's main rotor rpm had decreased to a critical state. He attempted to increase the rotor rpm, but could not do so prior to the helicopter set- tling into the top of one of the fruit trees. The helicopter has been recovered, and will undergo further examination.
CEN12LA359 – PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 3 UNINJURED.
On June 9, 2012, approximately
1900 mountain daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registered to a private company in Minnesota, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after a loss of lift during takeoff/initial climb from the Dona Ana County Airport (5T6), Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The private pilot and his 2 pilot rated passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions
bird remains on components of the rotor head and on 2 of the 4 pitch change rods. The 2 pitch change rods with bird remains were separated from one of their attach points. The bird remains were removed and are being sent to the Smithsonian for bird identification.
WPR12LA244 – PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 1 UNINJURED.
Federal Aviation Administration
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