By Jim TimmJimTimm

July 2014

The following are the preliminary NTSB accident reports of aviation accidents in Arizona shortly after they have occurred and the information is used to develop safety programs and briefings that should help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and thus take the necessary action to prevent similar accidents from happening. Starting the beginning of this year, the NTSB extended the time permitted for investigators to issue a preliminary accident report from 30 to 90 days after the accident. As a result of this change it is a little bit more difficult for us to be able to develop the most timely safety programs to reduce accidents. It also requires digging back a bit deeper into the records each reporting period to gather all the information. We continue to look for an alternate source of more complete and timely information.

This past reporting period has not been a good one from a flight safety standpoint. Since the last reporting period, there were ten accidents. Unfortunately, four of the reported accidents were devoid of accident information at the time this report was prepared. Perhaps the only good news is that there was only one fatality reported during this period and only one accident that had serious injuries. So far this year, the reports without accident details have not involved fatalities. It appears this type of accident commands sufficient attention that a preliminary report has been forth coming.

Based on information available at the time this report was prepared, the reported accidents are as follows:


Accident Date: Friday, May 16, 2014
Location: Tucson
Aircraft Type: Piper J3C 65

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Saturday, May 17, 2014 Reported 5/27/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Fort Huachuca
Aircraft Type: Aero Commander 500S
Injuries: 2 Serious

On May 17, 2014, about 1020 MST, an Aero Commander 500S impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Sierra Vista Municipal Airport – Libby Army Airfield, Fort Huachuca (FHU). The pilot and certified flight instructor were seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage throughout. The airplane was registered to, and operated by Ponderosa Aviation Inc. as an orientation flight.
Witnesses reported they observed the airplane takeoff normally. When it was over the departure end of the runway, they heard a distinct "pop pop" noise followed by silence. The airplane immediately made a steep left turn; as the wings started to level, it descended behind rising terrain. Shortly thereafter they observed a large dust cloud.


Accident Date: Sunday, May 18, 2014 Reported 5/27/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Peach Springs
Aircraft Type: American Eurocopter Corp. AS350B3
Injuries: 1 Fatal

On May 18, 2014, about 1600 MST, an American Eurocopter Corp. AS 350B3 rolled over after landing at the Ramada landing site located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near Grand Canyon West Airport (1G4), near Peach Springs. The commercial pilot with a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate was fatally injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage.

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. The wreckage was found resting on its right side at the 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 equipped with an Appareo Vision 1000 cockpit imaging and flight data monitoring device which was undamaged and was 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, 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.


Accident Date: Thursday, May 22, 2014 Reported 5/29/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Parker
Aircraft Type: Beech H35
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

On May 22, 2014 about 1130 MST, a Beech H35 was substantially damaged during a forced landing on rough terrain near the Avi Suquilla Airport (P20), Parker. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot-rated owner were not injured. The accident flight originated from Quail Mesa Ranch Airport (15AZ), Quartzsite at about 1115 with a planned destination of P20.

The pilot-rated owner (who could not act as pilot in command for medical reasons) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge in a telephone interview that about 5 miles from P20, the engine lost power. He stated that the engine and fuel controls were manipulated to try and regain engine power. Despite their efforts, the engine would not restart and a forced landing was initiated onto rough terrain. The owner further stated that he had about 15 to 20 gallons of fuel on board prior to departing 15AZ.

During the landing roll, the nose landing gear folded underneath the airplane, and the right wing sustained substantial damage.


Accident Date: Thursday, May 29, 2014
Location: La Cholla
Aircraft Type: Meyers MAC 145

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Saturday, May 31, 2014
Location: San Manuel
Aircraft Type: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Location: Prescott
Aircraft Type: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Saturday June 7, 2014 Reported 6/13/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 135
Location: Page
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172N
Injuries: 3 Uninjured
On June 7, 2014, about 1850 MST, a Cessna 172 airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a residential block wall during an aborted landing at the Page Municipal Airport (KPGA). The flight departed Page about 1750 as a Part 135 local area scenic flight. The pilot and two passengers were not injured in the accident.

The pilot reported that during landing the wind got "squirrely." When he pulled back the power just before the flare, the airplane unexpectedly climbed. Fearing a porpoise, he applied full engine power and the airplane climbed to about 30-40 feet above the runway, but no higher. He reported he flew the airplane around the trees and houses at the end of the runway. Unable to climb, he pushed the nose down, but the airspeed remained just above stall. The airplane impacted a block wall.

The pilot stated that he thought the failure to climb was due to the local wind conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.


Accident Date: Subday, June 8, 2014 Reported 6/17/2014
Title 14 CFR Public Use
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

At 0056 MST an MD Helicopter 369E landed hard following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the City of Mesa Police Department. The commercial pilot and commercial pilot rated tactical flight officer (TFO) were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom during the accident sequence.

During the routine night patrol, while traveling 60-70 knots, about 700 feet above ground level, the pilot heard an uncharacteristic change in engine tone accompanied by a decrease in engine speed. The pilot began to diagnose the problem, during which time a series of caution warning lights illuminated followed by the engine-out tone. The pilot immediately initiated an autorotation, aiming for a tree-lined field. The helicopter cleared the trees, and prior to initiating the flare the pilot realized he needed to turn on the landing lights in order to properly see the ground. He was unable to turn them on in time, and he initiated the flare, landing the helicopter level on the skids. The main rotor blades subsequently struck and severed the tail boom just aft of the tail fairing.


Accident Date: Thursday, June 12, 2014 Reported 6/12/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Adams Dragonfly
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

On June 12, 2014, about 0624 MST, an Adams Dragonfly experienced a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa. The private pilot was uninjured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left canard and elevator.

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the engine RPM gradually reduced from about 3,100 RPM to about 2,500 RPM. During this time the airplane continued to ascend slowly until about 150 feet above the ground when it began to descend. The pilot landed the airplane in a field; during the landing roll the airplane impacted a berm and struck vegetation before coming to rest.


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


Accident Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 6/5/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Show Low Final Report and Findings
Aircraft Type: Enstrom Helicopter Corp. 280C
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

The pilot reported that just after takeoff, he hovered the helicopter about two feet above the ground before starting a northwesterly takeoff run over an area of grass-covered, uneven terrain. The pilot noted that during the takeoff run, the main rotor RPM began to decay, so he added engine throttle to correct for the RPM decline. The helicopter subsequently descended and during touchdown, the left main landing gear skid collapsed. The helicopter rolled to the left, and the main rotor blades struck the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor drive system, tail boom, and fuselage.

The pilot reported that the estimated gross weight of the helicopter at takeoff was 2,300 pounds, or approximately 50 pounds under the maximum gross weight of 2,350 pounds. The density altitude was calculated to be 7,015 feet mean sea level.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM during the takeoff run in a high density altitude environment, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and collision with terrain.


Accident Date: Thursday, March 20, 2014 Reported 6/4/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Coolidge Final Report
Aircraft Type: Diamond Aircraft Ind. Inc. DA40
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

The pilot reported flying a normal pattern and making a stabilized approach. Upon touchdown the airplane veered to the left and the pilot corrected with right rudder. The airplane then started to rotate to the right and the left wheel departed the landing gear strut.

The local police responded to the accident and spoke with the pilot. Officers examined the skid marks on the runway and made the following observations. The airplane touched down on the center of the runway and the skid marks veered towards the left side of the runway until the left main wheel went into the dirt. The pilot over corrected to the right and as the airplane veered to the right the left main wheel broke off of the landing gear. The airplane then began to spin on its belly for another 50-70 feet before coming to rest facing to the southeast. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.


Accident Date: Monday, April 14, 2014 Reported 5/30/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Mayer Factual Report
Aircraft Type: Linstrand 240A (Balloon)
Injuries: 3 Minor, 7 Uninjured

The pilot stated that he checked the weather in the early morning, which prepared him for light wind conditions. After inflation of the balloon, he performed a safety briefing for the passengers and departed shortly thereafter. When the balloon was en route, the ground crew advised the pilot of the high wind conditions. The pilot stated that he was not able to operate in his usual area and therefore had to maneuver the balloon over inhospitable terrain in conditions that did not allow for an immediate landing. The pilot gave the passengers a landing briefing relaying the information that an unexpected increase in surface wind speed prohibited them from landing in the area that was originally intended. The pilot felt he had limited options suitable for landing, and with canyons approaching, he opted to touchdown in an area of rough, volcanic rock. During landing, the basket was strewn across the rough rocky terrain and sustained substantial damage.

 

 

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