JANUARY ACCIDENT SUMMARY
by Jim Timm
In this regular reporting of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona, I hope that we can learn from the mistakes being made and take corrective action to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
For the last reporting period, the NTSB has reported six aviation accidents in Arizona. Of these accidents, there was one fatal accident, two with minor injuries and there were three non injury accidents. The single fatal accident did have some disturbing aspects to it that may be difficult to resolve.
While this past reporting period was a little bit better than the last one, we do need to do better. When you review the fatal accident details, you will see that it is going to be difficult to fully understand what was happening in this case. Again, this certainly has not been the best month for aviation safety. Each of these aircraft accidents are serious and we must continue to do what ever we can to prevent them.
The following information was taken from the preliminary reports that have been issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and contain only the initial information available and are subject to change and may contain errors. Any errors in the preliminary NTSB reports will be corrected when the more detailed final report is completed, which in some cases may be a year or more later.
Accident Date; Wednesday, October 24, 2012 (Reported 11/28/12)
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Casa Grande
Aircraft; SPORT PLANE DYNAMICS LIGHTENING
Injuries; 2 Uninjured
(Preliminary and Final Report)
The pilot reported that during the landing flare with full flaps selected, the airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot aborted the landing by applying full power and retracting the flaps in an effort to regain airspeed. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain airspeed, and kept the wings level until it landed adjacent to the runway, striking a dirt berm and coming to rest nose low.
The pilot operating handbook for the accident make/model airplane outlines a procedure for balked landings, stating that the throttle should be placed full forward, trim set as required, flaps positioned to one-half and to retract flaps when above 80 miles per hour and 100 feet above ground level. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
Pilot data was unavailable.
Accident Date; Sunday, November 11, 2012
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Maricopa
Aircraft; Cessna 172P
Injuries; 1 Minor
On November 11, 2012, about 1145 mst, a Cessna 172P made an off airport forced landing near Maricopa following a loss of control after takeoff. The private pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane stalled and the left wing dropped and he was unable to recover prior to the airplane contacting the ground. The airplane came to rest about 600 feet from the end of the 2,000-foot runway. The private pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The cross-country personal flight was departing with a planned destination of Santa Ana, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Accident Date; Friday November 16, 2012
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Show Low
Aircraft; CIRRUS SR22
Injuries; 1 Minor
On November 16, 2012, about 0726 mst, a Cirrus design SR22, was substantially damaged when the airplane descended to the ground under parachute near Show Low after the engine experienced a complete loss of oil pressure during cruise flight. The pilot/owner received minor injuries.
According to the pilot, he departed Animas Airpark (00C), Durango Colorado, about 0600, with an intended destination of Nogales International Airport (OLS). About 2 hours into the flight, while in cruise flight at 12,000 feet msl, air traffic control (ATC) cleared him to 14,000 feet for terrain clearance. Just before the airplane reached the new assigned altitude, the pilot heard a loud "pop". About 4 minutes later, the pilot received an oil pressure annunciation that the oil pressure was at the bottom of the normal range. Within 1 minute the pilot saw the oil pressure had decreased to 0 psi, so he shut down the engine and advised ATC. He asked for vectors to the nearest airport and was advised that Show Low Regional Airport (SOW) was the closest. The pilot recognized that he would be unable to reach SOW, and advised ATC that he would deploy the ballistic parachute when he was over terrain that appeared suitable for a parachute landing. The pilot estimated that he deployed the parachute between 1,000 and 2,000 feet above ground level. The airplane impacted in a field, bounced at least one time, and came to rest upright. The pilot exited the airplane and contacted assistance via his mobile telephone and was located about 2 hours after the landing.
On-scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that engine oil was deposited along the bottom and left side of the airplane. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine and instrument airplane ratings and the flight was operating on an FAA instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan.
Accident Date; Friday November 23, 2012
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Tacna
Aircraft; Piper PA28-160 Cherokee
Injuries; 1 Fatal
On November 23, 2012, at an undetermined time, a Piper PA28-160, impacted desert terrain near Tacna. The private pilot/owner was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Tucson International Airport (TUS), at 0957, with an unknown destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot’s husband reported that he had received a voicemail from her. He stated that she appeared to be “acting paranoid”, stating she was going to take the airplane flying to get away from “Them.”
Fueling records at Atlantic Aviation-Tucson established that the airplane was last fueled on November 23, 2012, with the addition of 15.1 gallons of 100LL octane aviation fuel. At the pilot’s request, the service technician also added air to the nose wheel tire. Afterwords he watched as the pilot taxied out and then saw her take off using taxiway “D” and flew southbound.
Air traffic controllers at TUS reported that at 0957 MST an unknown airplane departed using taxiway “D” without any coordination or communication with air traffic controllers. The airplane was not transmitting any transponder information. The airplane was tracked with radar until it neared Eloy.
On November 28, 2012, a US Customs and Border Protection agent on patrol found the airplane wreckage with one deceased female person within the wreckage. The accident site was located 28 miles south of highway 8 inside the restricted area R-2301W.
Accident Date; Friday, November 23, 2012
Title 14 CFR Public Use
Location; Newfield
Aircraft; EUROCOPTER AS350
Injuries; 1 Uninjured
On November 23, 2012, about 1410 mst, an American Eurocopter Corporation AS350 B3 helicopter was substantially damaged following a loss of control while maneuvering near Newfield, Arizona. The helicopter was registered to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), of Washington, D.C. The certified commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the routine air patrol mission, which was conducted as a Public Use flight, and a CBP flight plan was filed. The flight had departed on the mission from the Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMA), about 1210.
In a post accident statement provided to the NTSB, the pilot reported that after he landed for a lunch break with the helicopter’s engine running at 100 percent flat pitch, he secured collective in the full bottom position and fractioned the cyclic. The pilot stated that as he was in the process of retrieving his lunch, the helicopter suddenly became light on its forward skids and began to slightly pitch up. The pilot further stated that at this time he corrected the slight pitch with forward cyclic to ensure skid contact with the ground. The pilot revealed that within seconds the aircraft began to exhibit vertical dynamic oscillations that continued to worsen, at which time he applied collective to lift off in an attempt to regain aircraft stability. However, as the helicopter lifted off, an uncommanded downward change in pitch resulted in a nose-low attitude. The pilot stated that he then applied aft cyclic to compensate, but when in about a 5 foot hover the helicopter immediately began an uncontrollable left yaw. Due to the lack of tail rotor authority, the helicopter continued to pivot left for about 180 degrees before the pilot was able to land the aircraft. After securing the engine and egressing the helicopter, the pilot observed that both tail rotor blades had separated and that the aft section of the tail boom was severed.
The closest weather reporting facility was located at the Nogales International Airport (OLS) which is about 50 nautical miles west of the accident site. At 1354, the OLS weather was reported as wind 080 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear.
Accident Date; Saturday November 24, 2012
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Phoenix
Aircraft; Piper PA-30 (Twin Comanche)
Injuries; 3 Uninjured
On November 24, 2012, about 0823 mst, a Piper PA-30 airplane sustained substantial damage during landing when the landing gear collapsed during rollout at the Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix. The certified airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight, which was destined for the Sedona Airport (SEZ), departed DVT about 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.
The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff he experienced a complete electrical failure. The pilot went through the emergency landing gear extension procedure, then phoned 1-800WXBRIEF to advise them of the electrical failure and that he would like to return and land at DVT. The pilot stated that he subsequently received a light gun signal from the DVT control tower, which authorized him to land. The pilot revealed that after touching down on Runway 7L and beginning his rollout, the airplane’s nose landing gear slowly collapsed, followed by the collapse of both main landing gear. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the undercarriage of the airplane.