the second activation was received at 2329z, which was 29 minutes after the accident with lat/lon data that was 1,500 yards north of the accident site. The ELT did not assist in locating the accident site due to on-scene witnesses.


WPR14FA203 - Preliminary Injuries: 1 Fatal


On May 23, 2014, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N4081H, was substantially damaged when it impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering west of the Santa Paula Airport (SZP) Santa Paula, California. The commercial pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter and was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to a Delaware corporation, and operated by a commercial helicopter operator under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight originated from Oxnard Airport California, at about 0930.


(OXR) Oxnard,


According to representative from the commercial helicopter operator, the pilot departed OXR after refueling and flew to Camarillo and then to SZP. The pilot was building flight time towards his rotorcraft commercial rating.


A witness, who lived near the accident site, saw the helicopter flying in a northeasterly direction paralleling her property. The helicopter was below the tree line on the opposite side of the riverbed and was descending. The witness stated that the helicopter sounded normal but was unusually loud because it was so close. Shortly after losing sight of the helicopter, she heard two loud “pops.”


Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board


(NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the helicopter impacted power lines and terrain about 1 and 1/2 miles west of SZP. The three phase overhead distribution power lines were separated directly over the accident site. These lines were supported by two wooden H-frame pole assemblies at a distance of about 1,000 feet from each other. The separated power lines were found in the surrounding bamboo vegetation and trees adjacent to the riverbed. Near the northern positioned H-frame, small spot fires were reported in the surrounding vegetation.


ANC14FA030 - Preliminary Injuries: 1 Fatal


On May 28, 2014, at 1433 Alaska daylight time, N392GP, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, collided with the ground and caught fire while maneuvering for landing during an external-load flight at Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed by the ground impact and post- impact fire. The flight was operated by a commercial operator under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local flight departed Birchwood Airport about 1315.


According to an operator’s representative, the pilot had been conducting practice flights with a 150-foot long-line attached to a fluid-filled, 55-gallon barrel in preparation for an upcoming project. Several witnesses at the airport said that they saw the helicopter flying on the day of the accident with the barrel suspended beneath it by the long-line. One witness who was flying his airplane on short final for runway 20 when the accident occurred had heard the helicopter pilot communicating on the


airport common traffic advisory frequency, providing regular position reports as he maneuvered the helicopter. That witness saw the helicopter maneuver from a hover over the end of runway 20 with the barrel suspended on the long-line to the area east of the runway on the ramp near where the accident occurred. Other witnesses reported that the ramp location is where the pilot typically sets down the barrel and lands the helicopter. The airplane pilot reported that he saw the nose of the helicopter pitch up before it rolled to the left, descended, and impacted the ground. Other witnesses on the ground reported hearing two loud “bang” sounds a few seconds apart and said that, when they looked to see what made the sound, they saw the helicopter on the ground in flames.


Initial examination of the helicopter at the accident site revealed that the fuselage came to rest on its left side on a gravel road adjacent to the paved airport ramp, and much of


the cockpit and cabin


structures were consumed by fire. The tail boom and tail rotor were on the ground aft of the burned fuselage. The main rotor mast assembly with the main rotor hub attached was found separated on the ground several feet away from the fuselage and engine. One main rotor blade was separated outboard of the hub near the blade root, and the other main rotor blade was attached in its entirety and damaged. All pieces of the main rotor blade were located at the accident site. The length of a linear ground scar near the fuselage was consistent with the length of a main rotor blade. The barrel with which the pilot had been practicing was found on its side in the grass adjacent to the airport ramp. The long-line was attached to the barrel and was not attached to the helicopter’s pilot- controlled, belly-mounted cargo hook.


Editor’s Note: Although an accident is painful for all involved, a cursory review of accidents that have occured 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 decision makers to make it a habit to study the industry’s recent history. If they trigger higher awareness that saves even one life or one airframe, it will have been well worth the read.


52 July 2014


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