By Jim TimmJimTimm

November 2014

The following are the preliminary NTSB accident reports of the aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from mid September thru late October. Hopefully we can use the information to develop safety programs and briefings that will help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and thus take the necessary action to prevent similar accidents from happening. Because the NTSB extended the time permitted for investigators to issue a preliminary accident report from 30 to 90 days after the accident, it continues to be challenging to be able to develop the most timely safety programs to reduce accidents. It also requires digging back much deeper into the records each reporting period to gather all the information. As a result of this reporting delay, I hope it does not result in missing any reported accidents.

This past reporting period has again been a relatively good one from a flight safety standpoint. Since the last reporting period, there were four accidents reported, and fortunately, there were no fatalities. Only one accident reported this month contained accident details and the two occupants involved in the accident were uninjured. Three of the four reported accidents were devoid of detailed accident information.

At the end of this report there are the details of two accidents that were initially reported on July 21 and September 6 without information. These two accident reports were finally issued in this past reporting period.

Based on information available when this report was prepared, the reported accidents are as follows;


Accident Date: Friday, September 12, 2014
Report Dated September 24, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 135
Location: Tombstone
Aircraft Type: Bell 206L4
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

IN FLIGHT LOSS OF POWER

About 1115 MST, the pilot of a Bell 206L4 initiated a forced landing onto a gravel road following a partial loss of power near Tombstone. The commercial rated pilot and one passenger were uninjured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The flight originated from Sierra Vista Municipal Airport – Libby Army Airfield, Sierra Vista, Arizona at 1050 for a local flight.

The pilot reported that during cruise flight the helicopter's RPM suddenly started to decrease, he reduced power and initiated a forced landing. During the approach to land the engine lost complete power and the helicopter impacted the ground hard. Subsequently, the helicopter's skids spread and the main rotor blade severed the tail boom.

The pilot said there were no mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed.


Accident Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014
Location: Phoenix
Aircraft Type: N250 (Balloon)
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Thursday, September 25, 2014
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: Pitts S1S
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Accident Date: Sunday, October 5, 2014
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172S
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DEVOID OF ACCIDENT INFORMATION. IN THIS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER REPORTING PERIOD, THE ACCIDENT DETAILS HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE.


Accident Date: Monday, July 21, 2014
Report Dated October 9, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Phoenix
Aircraft Type: Piper PA18-150
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING

The pilot was landing the tail-wheel equipped airplane in variable wind conditions, and subsequently touched down with a quartering tailwind. The airplane veered off the runway to the right, ground-looped, and came to rest back on the runway. During the excursion, the airplane impacted a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing during the ground-loop. The commercial MEL/ SEL pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.


Accident Date: Saturday, September 6, 2014
Report Dated October 10, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Piper PA24-250
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE ON LANDING

At 1226 MST, a Piper PA 24-250 sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa. The ATP pilot and the one passenger were uninjured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The cross-country flight departed //, Utah, about 0930, with a planned destination of Mesa.

The pilot reported that on approach to land, after he extended the landing gear, he did not get a locked gear position indication. After a low flyby, the pilot attempted to manually extend the gear and still did not get a safe gear indication.

The pilot made a normal landing, but during the roll out, the right main gear collapsed.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.