By Jim TimmJimTimm

JUNE 2014

In the past we have been able to review the preliminary NTSB accident reports for aviation accidents shortly after they had occurred in Arizona, and use the information to develop safety programs and briefings that would help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and take the necessary action to prevent similar accidents from happening. With the new NTSB reporting guidelines, it's continuing to be a little bit more difficult for us to be able to develop these safety programs to reduce accidents. They now have 90 days to submit a preliminary accident report rather than the previous 30 days. This means we are having to dig back a bit deeper into the records to get the information.

We are still hopeful that an alternate source of information may be available from the Scottsdale FSDO. An effort will continue, to determine if this is possible.

Since the last reporting period, there were five accidents, of which, only one did not have a report issued. The really bad news is that, in this last reporting period, there were three fatal accidents. Based on information available, the reported accidents are as follows.


Accident Date: Monday, April 14, 2014
Location: Silver Spring
Aircraft Type: LINstrand 240A (Balloon)

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Monday, April 21, 2014 Reported 4/28/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Bullhead City
Aircraft Type: Piper PA 30
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

On April 21, at about 1345 MST, a Piper PA-30 airplane sustained substantial damage following a forced landing and impact with terrain after a reported loss of engine power during a go-around at the Sun Valley Airport (A20). The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The repositioning flight departed the Lake Havasu City Airport (LII), about 1330, with A20 as its destination.

The pilot reported that while on final approach and over runway 36 at A20, he observed that he was high and fast. The pilot stated that immediately after advancing the throttles to go around, both engines quit; the pilot then performed a forced landing to the north of runway 36. The airplane came to rest upright in bare desert terrain about 1 mile from the departure end of the runway. The pilot further reported that about a week prior to the accident, he had experienced a duel engine failure while on short final to LII. The pilot stated that after landing uneventfully, the airplane was towed to a local aircraft maintenance facility where maintenance was performed; the extent of the maintenance is under review by the NTSB and the FAA. The repositioning/accident flight from LII to A20 was the first flight subsequent to the completion of the maintenance at LII.

A Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector performed an initial examination of the airplane subsequent to its recovery to the pilot's hangar at A20. The inspector reported that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to its wings and empennage as a result of the forced landing, that the left propeller blades were observed in the feathered position, and that the right propeller blades were in low pitch. The inspector also reported that after draining fuel from both the left and right fuel tanks, no water or sediment was observed.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the repositioning flight and a flight plan was not filed.


Accident Date: Saturday, April 26, 2014 Reported 5/5/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Young
Aircraft Type: NBB Inc. GLASAIR III
Injuries: 1 Fatal

On April 26, at about 1030 MST, a NBB Inc. Glasair III airplane was destroyed by impact with terrain and a post crash fire about 20 miles southeast of Young. The airplane was owned and being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported in the area of the accident, and the non-instrument rated, solo, private pilot received fatal injuries.

On April 26, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) was notified by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technician from the Western Pacific Regional Operations Center that the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at Albuquerque, New Mexico had been in contact with the accident airplane. The technician reported that the accident airplane pilot had declared an emergency, stating that he was trapped underneath a cloud layer in mountainous terrain, and that the visibility was deteriorating. The ARTCC operator attempted to direct the accident airplane to San Carlos Apache Airport (P13), Globe, Arizona. Contact with the airplane was lost, and an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued.

About 1800, the IIC was notified that the airplane's wreckage had been located in remote mountainous terrain, about 20 miles southeast of Young. No flight plan was filed for the flight which departed Lea County Airport (KHOB), Hobbs, New Mexico about 0930. The airplane was bound for Falcon Field (KFFZ), Mesa.


On April 27, the NTSB IIC, accompanied by an FAA aviation safety inspector, examined the airplane wreckage at the accident site. The site was located in remote, rugged, mountainous terrain, about 5,000 feet in elevation. The debris field was on a steep west facing slope, and about 70 feet in diameter. All of the airplane's major structural components and control surfaces were identified. The wreckage was extensively burned, and control continuity could not be established.

The investigation is continuing.


Accident Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014 Reported 5/13/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Aguila
Aircraft Type: AERO TEK Inc. ZUNI
Injuries: 1 Fatal

On May 3, at about 1210 MST, an experimental exhibition Aero Tek Inc., Zuni, glider sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during initial climb out from Sampley's Airport (28AZ) Aguila. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the glider, was fatally injured.

The tow pilot reported that takeoff was normal and shortly after beginning the climb, the pilot noticed a lightening of the control forces. Subsequently, the pilot determined that the glider had separated from the tow line about 100 feet, above ground level.

Examination of the accident site by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators revealed that the glider impacted terrain about 350 feet east of 28AZ.


Accident Date: Saturday, May 10, 2014 Reported 5/15/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91 (Part 135?)
Location: Page
Aircraft Type: Cessna T207A
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 5 Minor

On May 10, at about 1545 MST, a Cessna T207A was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at the Page Municipal Airport (PGA). The airline transport pilot and four passengers sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and one passenger was fatally injured.

The pilot reported that about half way into a 40-minute sightseeing flight, he noticed reduction in engine power. Despite the pilot's attempts, he was unable to correct the power reduction and initiated a turn towards the airport. The pilot stated that he entered the airport traffic pattern for runway 15 about 1,000 feet above ground level, and applied 10-degrees of flaps just prior to turning base. After turning onto final for the runway, the airplane suddenly descended abruptly, impacted terrain, and nosed over. The pilot reported that he thought the airplane experienced a downdraft on final prior to impact with the ground.

Multiple witnesses located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the accident airplane on final for runway 15 and suddenly descend rapidly into terrain in a normal approach to landing attitude.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted soft terrain about 390 feet short of the approach end of runway 15, slightly left of the runway. All major structural components of the airplane were located within about 30 feet of the main wreckage.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the local sightseeing fight. The flight originated from PGA about 20 minutes prior to the accident.


Aircraft Accident Reports Issued This Past Reporting Period
The following six accidents were previously listed without information being available. This last reporting period the following information was made available.


Accident Date: Friday, January 10, 2014 Reported 5/5/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Lake Havasu Final Report and Findings
Aircraft Type: Maule M7-235
Injuries: 2 Minor

The pilot reported that following an uneventful takeoff in the amphibious float equipped airplane, he intended on performing a water landing at a nearby lake as part of his check ride. During the water landing, the airplane immediately nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot stated that he had become distracted after takeoff and did not retract the landing gear for the water landing. The designated pilot examiner onboard the airplane, reported that he did not confirm the position of the landing gear prior to the water landing. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilots' failure to verify the landing gear position prior to the water landing and the pilot examiner's failure to adequately monitor the pilot.


Accident Date: Saturday, January 25, 2014 Reported 5/13/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Wilcox
Aircraft Type: Piper PA 18-150
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

The pilot reported that he and his father had flown to the accident location to camp and hunt. They made three passes over an open area to find a suitable landing spot. The pilot stated that the grass appeared to be knee-to-hip height, but he believed it was safe to land. He set up for landing, and on the landing rollout, at about 20-30 knots, the left main landing gear wheel struck an unseen, large embedded boulder that collapsed the left main landing gear. The airplane's wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.


Accident Date: Saturday, February 1, 2014 Reported 4/23/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Globe Final Report and Findings
Aircraft Type: Beech V35A
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured

The pilot reported that the wind was calm during his descent to landing. He further stated that he was low and slow at about 150 to 200 feet above the ground when the airplane began to stall and he was too late to respond. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain and came to rest short of the runway threshold. During the accident sequence, the firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate glide path and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Accident Date: Monday, March 17, 2014 Reported 4/23/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Glendale
Aircraft Type: Grumman TMB-3E
Injuries: 4 Uninjured

The pilot reported that after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway intersection, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever by mistake, rather than the adjacent flap lever. The left landing gear collapsed, which caused the left wing tip to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he waited until he was clear of the runway, stopped, and identified the flap switch. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.


Accident Date: Sunday, March 23, 2014 Reported 5/5/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Mesa Final Report and Findings
Aircraft Type: Diamond Aircraft Ind. DA20C1
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

The student pilot reported that following an uneventful practice no flap landing, he decided to exit the 3,799-foot long runway at the last taxiway exit and focused on maintaining runway centerline. The student pilot stated that he did not realize how close to the end of the runway he was and the airplane was traveling too fast to turn onto the intended taxiway exit. Subsequently, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway onto the dirt, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The student pilot's excessive speed during taxi which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate monitoring of the remaining runway length available during the landing roll.


Accident Date: Saturday, March 29, 2014 Reported 5/5/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Eloy Final Report and Findings
Aircraft Type: AVIAT Aircraft Inc. A1B
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

The pilot reported that he was practicing off airport landings and takeoffs. After the fifth landing, which was intended as a touch and go, he powered up for takeoff, lost directional control, and the airplane ground-looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar, and left elevator. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

 

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