By Jim Timm JimTimm

December 2015 

The following are the NTSB reports of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from late October thru late November. As all detailed accident information becomes available, 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 was relatively good in that there were no fatalities reported and the injuries reported were either none or minor in nature. The bad news is there were six new accidents reported which is significantly up from last time. At the end of this report we are including the recently released details of two accidents that the NTSB had reported earlier in the year minus detailed information.

Fortunately, so far this year the accident numbers have been down and for the most part, they have been minor in nature. I only hope we can complete the year with a record low accident/injury rate. If everyone will plan and execute all their flights with continued careful planning, and good judgment we should be able to make this a banner year for safety. So please fly safe!

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


Accident Date: Saturday, October 10, 2015
Report Dated 10/26/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Tucson
Aircraft Type: Cessna 310J
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE ON LANDING

On October 10, 2015, about 1200 MST, a Cessna 310J airplane was substantially damaged during a landing attempt at Tucson International Airport (TUS). The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, while inbound to land at TUS, the pilot flew south of the airport to troubleshoot an improper landing gear indication. He then returned to the airport and asked the tower to observe the landing gear position. After he received confirmation that the landing gear was extended, the pilot configured the airplane to land on runway 11R. During touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the right elevator.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight that departed TUS at 1020.


Accident Date: Monday, October 12, 2015
Location: Marana
Aircraft Type: Beech F33A

NO NTSB INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015
Report Dated 11/2/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Prescott
Aircraft Type: Luscombe 8A
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING

On October 24, about 1510 MST, a Luscombe 8A experienced loss of directional control during the landing roll and ground looped at the Ernest A. Love Field Airport, Prescott (PRC). The pilot, a certified flight instructor, and his passenger were not injured, however, the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed from Gallup Municipal Airport, Gallup, New Mexico, about 1245 with a planned destination of Prescott.

In a written report, the pilot stated that as he entered the vicinity of the destination airport, he maneuvered the airplane for a straight-in approach to runway 21L. The approach was slightly higher than his normal glide slope, and the pilot configured the airplane into a left slip in an effort to lose altitude. After getting established on the proper approach slope, the pilot maintained a left crab angle to compensate for an approximate 7 kt left crosswind. The airplane touched down on the centerline with all three landing gear making contact at the same time. The airplane continued the landing roll until decelerating to about 15 mph at which point it began to veer to the left. The pilot applied full rudder input control to try to counteract the veer, but despite his attempts, the airplane ground looped.

During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing. The pilot opined that the loss of control was precipitated by a tail wheel malfunction.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan had been filed.


Accident Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015
Report Dated 11/20/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Buckeye
Aircraft Type: Brandon Evans Gyroplane
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL

The student pilot reported that he lined the gyroplane up on the centerline of the runway for takeoff. As the takeoff roll was commenced, the student pilot stated he looked down to check the gyroplane's airspeed indicator and when he looked back up the gyroplane was 2 feet above the ground and drifting right. The gyroplane rolled right and came to rest on its right side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor mast and horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that as the rotor was coming up to speed, he noticed the student pilot
was holding the cyclic aft and to the right. The flight instructor reported he tried to push the cyclic forward and left but was unable to overcome the student pilot's cyclic inputs. The gyroplane rolled right and came to rest on its right side.

The student pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.


Accident Date: Monday, November 2, 2015
Location: Bisbee Douglas
Aircraft Type: Cessna 182R

NO NTSB INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Saturday, November 7, 2015
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172S

NO NTSB INFORMATION AVAILABLE


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

The following helicopter was owned and operated by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Accident Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Report Dated 11/17/15
Title 14 CFR Public Use
Location: Tucson
Aircraft Type: Airbus / AS350-B2 Helicopter
Injuries: 1 Uninjured, 1 Minor

“QUICK STOP” HARD LANDING

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the operator reported that, the Instructor Pilot (IP) was demonstrating the flare portion of an autorotation to the Pilot Under Instruction (PUI) when the aircraft continued through the power recovery point and impacted the runway. However, during the interview with the IP and the PUI, both pilots referred to the "flare portion" as the quick stop maneuver, which was the maneuver being performed at the time of the accident. Both pilots stated that they hover taxied to the approach end of the runway, stopped over the runway numbers and established a hover between 65-75 feet above ground level. They reported that as they hovered over the runway numbers, facing in the direction of the runway heading, the IP described the intricacies of the quick stop maneuver. The IP specified that the maneuver would terminate to a hover, and the IP initiated the quick stop demonstration by accelerating to the airspeed of 65 knots. The IP reported that as he talked through the maneuver, he lowered the collective and applied aft cyclic. He stated that as the helicopter began to settle, he misperceived the helicopters altitude in relation to the ground and the helicopter skids impacted the ground hard. Both pilots stated that the IP responded by increasing collective and the helicopter ascended, started moving aft, and the tail boom separated, impacting the left side of the fuselage. The PUI reported that he and the IP were both on the controls after the first impact. Both pilots recalled lowering the collective in order to set the helicopter down, the helicopter remained in a level pitch attitude, but yawed left and landed on the skids. The helicopter remained on the ground as the left yaw continued, and the engine was shut down. Both pilots reported that the helicopter spun on the skids, in two complete circles while on the ground, before coming to a stop. The tail boom and main rotor system sustained substantial damage.

Both pilots reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the helicopter that would have prevented normal operations.


Accident Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Report Dated 11/13/15
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Show Low
Aircraft Type: Cessna 305A (Cessna L19 Bird Dog)
Injuries: 2 Uninjured

LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he used a "standard crosswind technique" during the final approach, but just before touchdown the nose of the airplane shifted 25 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. After touchdown, the pilot attempted to correct with the rudder and ailerons, but the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway surface. During the runway excursion, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the terrain. The right wing sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there was a crosswind during the final approach, and the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind during the touchdown. About the time of the accident, the airport automated weather observing system reported the wind at 020 degrees true at 5 knots, which resulted in a quartering tailwind.

The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

 

 

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