Federal Aviation Administration Monthly Accident & Incident Data for the Month of May 2014
ERA14CA217 - Injuries: 2 Minor Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, Registration: N802CP
The accident occurred Thursday, May 01, 2014 in Frederick, Maryland. According to the flight instructor, his student was practicing hover operations over a grassy area of the airport. This was the first flight in a helicopter for the student pilot. The helicopter drifted to the right while descending. The right skid contacted the grass and the helicopter rolled to the right and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter continued to roll over and came to rest on its right side. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the helicopter and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades. The pilots reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
WPR14LA180 - Preliminary Injuries: 2 Minor
On May 3, 2014, about 0930 Pacific daylight
time, a Bell 47G, N7895B,
sustained substantial damage during an precautionary landing, about three miles south of the El Monte Airport (EMT) El Monte, California. The helicopter was registered to a private company and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated at EMT about 0910, with a destination of Compton/Woodley Airport, Compton California.
The pilot reported that during climb out, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing. The pilot stated that during the landing, he carried a little forward speed and the right skid caught on the ground and rolled the helicopter on to its right side. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed that the fuselage and main rotor blades were structurally damaged. The helicopter was recovered to a local storage facility for further examination.
ENG14WA012 - Foreign Injuries: Unavailable
On May 6, 2014, at 10:52 am local time, an Airbus A330-223 performed a rejected takeoff at the Melbourne Aerodrome, Melbourne, Victoria Australia, due to the failure of the No. 2 engine (right), a Pratt & Whitney PW4168 turbofan. No injuries were reported. The investigation is being conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB). The NTSB is participating as the US Accredited Representative as the state of manufacturer for the engines.
WPR14FA195 - Preliminary Injuries: 1 Fatal
On May 18, 2014, about 1600 mountain standard time (MST), an American Eurocopter Corp, AS 350B3, N840PA, rolled over after landing at the Ramada landing site located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near Grand Canyon West Airport (1G4), Peach Springs, Arizona. A Grand Canyon helicopter tour company was operating the helicopter under the provisions
of 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot with a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate was fatally injured; the
helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local repositioning flight departed 1G4, about 1555. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan had been filed.
The accident site was 1.75 nm east of 1G4, located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, approximately 380 feet west of the Colorado River (west shore). The wreckage was found resting on its right side located at the subject landing pad.
Witnesses reported that the pilot landed and was planning on exiting the helicopter to perform a “fluid level check.” After landing, the pilot exited the running helicopter; shortly thereafter the helicopter became airborne without the pilot at the flight controls. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and rolled over. The pilot was struck by one or more of the main rotor blades and was fatally injured.
The helicopter was examined on site by the investigation team. No abnormalities with the helicopter airframe or engine systems were noted. The helicopter was recovered for further examination.
The helicopter was equipped with an Appareo Vision 1000 cockpit imaging and flight data monitoring device. The Appareo device was undamaged and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC, for data extraction.
The helicopter was equipped with a 406- mhz Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT). The Armed Forces Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) received the ELT activation at 2300z (1600 hours mountain standard time.) The first activation did not have any latitude or longitude information. However,
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