Monthly Accident and Incident Data for the Month of April 2013
ERA13FA186 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 2 FATAL
On April 3, 2013 about 1600 eastern
daylight time, a Robinson R-44, N3101H impacted the ground while conducting a test flight in Miami, Florida. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a com- mercial helicopter operator. The commer- cial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The test flight was conduct- ed under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Kendall-Tamiami Executive airport (TMB), Miami, Florida shortly before the accident. The pilot's girlfriend stated that a new
WPR13LA178 - PRELIMINARY INJURIES: 1 SERIOUS, 3 MINOR
On April 2, 2013, about 1100 moun-
tain daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas MD369A helicopter, N369HW, was sub- stantially damaged during a hard landing on private property in Darby, Montana. The owner-pilot received serious injuries, and his three passengers received minor injuries. The personal flight was conduct- ed under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no FAA flight plan was filed for the flight. According to the pilot, he departed
from his ranch/airstrip with his son-in-law and two grandchildren, and they flew about 1/2 hour on a local sightseeing flight. Near the end of the flight, during the approach for landing, when the helicopter was about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot added some power, and the engine responded normally. Shortly thereafter, he conducted his "60-
46 June 2013
60" check, which assured that the heli- copter was at 60 mph at 60 feet agl. He then slowed to a hover/descent, with the engine running at a speed above idle. At an altitude of about 10 feet agl, the pilot increased the throttle setting, but the engine did not respond. He realized that they would then land hard, so he added collective to slow the descent. The heli- copter impacted the ground; the tail rotor, tail boom, and all main rotor blades sepa- rated from the helicopter. One skid partial- ly collapsed, but the helicopter remained upright. There was no fire, and all four occupants exited the helicopter. The pilot held multiple ratings and
certificates, including airline transport pilot and rotorcraft helicopter. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical certificate was issued in May 2012. FAA information indi- cated that the helicopter was manufac- tured in 1970, and was equipped with an Allison (Rolls-Royce) 250-C20 series tur- bine engine.
set of main rotor blades was recently received from the helicopter manufacturer and that the pilot hired a mechanic to install the new blades. This installation required that the helicopter be test flown and that the blades be incrementally adjusted, on the ground after flight, to minimize any vibration to the helicopter. This maintenance procedure is referred to as track and balance. Multiple witnesses in the immediate
vicinity of the crash site reported hearing an "explosion" as the helicopter flew over- head. Witnesses were also consistent in reporting that the empennage section of the helicopter departed the aircraft before the initial impact. Another witness stated that the postcrash fire started about five minutes after the initial impact. Several witnesses also reported birds in the area as they looked up and saw the helicopter over their location. Initial examination of the helicopter
by an NTSB investigator and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, revealed that the cockpit, engine, and main rotor sections were either consumed or damaged by post-crash fire. The heli- copter debris field bore 280 degrees mag- netic out to 600 feet away from the initial impact point.
Federal Aviation Administration
stock image: not related to any mentioned accidents
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