By Jim Timm JimTimm

October 2015 

The following are the NTSB reports of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from late August thru late September. When all detailed accident information becomes available, the APA will attempt to use it to develop safety programs and briefings that should help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and prevent similar accidents from happening to them.

From a flight safety standpoint, this reporting period has been both good and bad. The bad news is that the number of accidents has dramatically increased; however, the good news is that there have not been any fatalities and the number of injuries has been minimal. Of the eight accidents reported by the NTSB this period, a balloon accident involving eleven persons resulted in only one serious injury, and a helicopter accident involving two people resulted in one minor injury. In all the other cases, no injuries were reported. Unfortunately, of the accidents reported, one was devoid of information. The only good thing is that this was most likely not serious in nature regarding injuries.

Based on information available when this summary was prepared, the reported accidents this period are as follows:


Accident Date: Friday, July 31, 2015
Report Dated 8/26/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Peoria
Aircraft Type: ULTRAMAGIC N250 (Balloon)
Injuries: 1 Serious, 10 Uninjured

BASKET TIPPED OVER BY WIND AFTER LANDING

On July 31, 2015 about 0750 MST, an Ultramagic S.A. N250 balloon tipped over during the deflation process after landing in an open field in Peoria. The pilot and nine out of the ten passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained serious injuries when the basket tipped over. The balloon sustained no damage. The flight was conducted in the local area as a day passenger flight originating from private property in Phoenix. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, the balloon began the deflation process after landing. When the balloon was approximately 90 percent deflated, a gust of wind caught the fabric that still had captured hot air. The basket tipped forward and one passenger slid out of the basket. The passenger sustained serious injury.


Accident Date: Monday August 17, 2015
Report Dated (8/31/15)
Title 14 CFR Part 135 (Air Taxi & Commuter)
Location: Page
Aircraft Type: Quest Kodiak 100
Injuries: 6 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL ON TAKEOFF

On August 17, 2015, about 0830 MST, a Quest Kodiak 100 sustained minor damage when the pilot's seat slid aft and the airplane veered from the landing strip during the takeoff roll near Page. The commercial pilot and five passengers were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with a planned destination of Canyonlands Field Airport, Moab, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan had been filed for the non-scheduled cross country flight.

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to transport the passengers back to Moab, which required him to depart from a remote paved road that was regularly used as a runway. The airplane began the takeoff roll, and after about 100 feet down the road, the pilot's seat slid back abruptly to the full aft position. Because his right hand was positioned on the power lever for takeoff, the pilot inadvertently retarded the lever to the idle position as the seat slid aft. The pilot released his grip on the control yoke in an effort to keep the nose down. His feet were unable to reach the rudder pedals and with the seatbelt in the locked position, he was not able to manipulate his body forward to regain control.

The pilot further stated that the airplane began to veer to the left, continued off the pavement, and collided into a wire fence. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot was able to move the seat forward where he could reach the shoulder harness unlock-lever. The pilot and passengers egressed the airplane without incident.


Accident Date: Thursday, August 20, 2015
Report Dated 9/25/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Tucson
Aircraft Type: Stinson L 5E
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane "went into a ground loop with the nose of the aircraft pointing to the right." He stated that the airplane departed the runway to the right and impacted a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing.


Accident Date: Sunday, August 23, 2015
Report Dated 8/31/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Schweizer 369C (Helicopter)
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured

HARD LANDING

On August 23, 2015, about 1645 MST, a Schweizer 269C sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Falcon Field Airport (FFZ) Mesa. The commercial pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated at FFZ about 1615, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight.

The pilot reported that during the approach, he noticed erratic cyclic control movements and subsequently landed hard. Post accident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the main rotor blades and tail boom were substantially damaged.


Accident Date: Thursday, August 27, 2015
Report Dated 9/3/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Scottsdale
Aircraft Type: Cirrus SR22
Injuries: 3 Uninjured

NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED UNEXPECTEDLY

On August 27, 2015, about 1405 MST, a Cirrus SR22 sustained minor damage following a nose landing gear collapse during landing roll at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL). The commercial-rated flight instructor (CFI), the pilot receiving instruction, and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional cross-country flight. The flight departed Flagstaff, Arizona about 1300, with SDL reported as its destination, and a flight plan was not filed.

In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the CFI reported that the touchdown was normal, and that during the landing roll, and just as the airplane was beginning to turn off of the runway onto the taxiway, the nose landing gear collapsed without warning. The pilot stated that the airplane did not land hard, and there were no anomalies noted with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have precluded normal operation. It was also reported by company management personnel that at the time of the incident the airplane had a recorded Hobbs meter time of 461.9 hours, and a tachometer time of 391.4 hours.


Accident Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Report Dated 9/16/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Hayden
Aircraft Type: Lancair Super ES
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

POWER LOSS IN CRUISE FLIGHT

On September 1, 2015, about 0930 MST, a Lancair Super ES was destroyed during a forced landing and subsequent post impact fire after experiencing a total loss of engine power in cruise flight near Hayden. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas, about 0820, and was destined for Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU).

According to information provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane was in cruise flight at 8,500 feet msl when the pilot noted a partial loss of engine power. Engine power continued to decrease until the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing on the top of a mesa about 7 nautical miles east of the town of Hayden. During the landing, the airplane sustained damage to the wings and landing gear. The pilot egressed, and the airplane was subsequently consumed by fire.


Accident Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015
Report Dated 9/25/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Phoenix
Aircraft Type: Douglas A4N
Injuries: 1 Uninjured

GEAR UP LANDING

On September 17, 2015 about 1241 MST, a Douglas A4N landed gear up at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA). The commercial pilot (sole occupant) was uninjured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane had departed IWA at 1015 for a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to functionally test the airplanes systems. After conducting various maneuvers and configurations, he tested the emergency generator. During the test, he observed that some of the systems were not operating as expected and he proceeded back to the airport to land. He lowered the flaps, checked the landing gear, and prepared to use the drag parachute. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down onto the runway smoothly and the parachute was deployed; the airplane slowed rapidly. The airplane came to rest and then caught fire.


Accident Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Location: Show Low
Aircraft Type: Cessna 305A
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

 

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