MARCH AVIATION ACCIDENT SUMMARY
by Jim Timm
In this regular reporting of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona, we hopefully can learn from the mistakes being made and take corrective action to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
In this last reporting period, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported five aviation accidents in Arizona. Of these, two were fatal accidents and three accidents resulting in no injuries. Additional aircraft accidents may have occurred in the reporting period that had not been recorded and reported by the NTSB, however, they will be available and covered in the next report. The cause of the fatal accidents may be difficult to determine and it was not very apparent from the preliminary reports. For that, we will have to wait for the final NTSB reports. The non injury accidents have the appearance of being the result mechanical deficiencies. The final NTSB reports will tell us if they were.
While it’s good that the number of accidents reported were down a bit, we do not like to see reports on fatal accidents. I hope we can keep the numbers down and minor in nature.
The following information was taken from the preliminary reports that had been issued by the 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; Monday, December 31, 2012 (Reported 2/22/13)
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Chandler
Aircraft; Cessna 210A
Injuries; 4 Uninjured
On December 31, 2012, about 1045 MST, a Cessna 210A experienced a loss of engine power on takeoff from runway 22R and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field near the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD). The private pilot, operating the privately-owned borrowed airplane, and the three passengers were not injured, however, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. According to airport operations, the airplane had performed three touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the fourth takeoff, the engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. The airplane came to rest about 1/4 mile from the departure end of runway 22R.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident and reported that fuel was evident in the airplane, and there were no obvious mechanical problems identified. The pilot reported that right after takeoff, the engine quit; “it did not sputter or cough, it just quit.”
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed.
Accident Date; Thursday January 10, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Lake Pleasant
Aircraft; Heinz Rans S-4 Coyote
Injuries; 1 Uninjured
(Preliminary and Final Report)
The pilot stated that after about 30 minutes of flight he advanced the throttle and the engine went to idle power, then stopped. He restarted the engine and determined that it would only operate at idle power before it stopped again. He was over rocky terrain and determined that the best option was to ditch the airplane in the river he was flying over. After he ditched the airplane in the river, he swam to shore. The airplane sank and will not be recovered.
Pilot data was unavailable.
Accident Date; Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; City of Mesa
Aircraft; Goetz Helicycle
Injuries; 1 Uninjured
On January 22, 2013, about 1400 MST, a Goetz Helicycle, experienced a hard landing following an off airport autorotation about 4 miles southeast of Falcon Field Airport (FFZ). The uninjured commercial pilot reported that while approaching FFZ, the helicopter’s engine started to oscillate rapidly. Unable to stop the oscillations, he entered an autorotation and landed hard on a residential street sidewalk. Subsequently, the main rotor and tail rotor systems were substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for FFZ.
Accident Date; Wednesday February 6, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Casa Grande Airport
Aircraft; Beech E90
Injuries; 2 Fatal
On February 6, 2013, about 1135 MST, a Beech E-90 sustained substantial damage when it collided with the terrain while maneuvering at the Casa Grande Airport (CGZ). The private pilot, who occupied the left pilot seat, and the certified flight instructor, who occupied the right pilot seat, sustained fatal injuries. The reported local instructional flight departed the Marana Regional Airport (AVQ) about 1030 MST.
A line service person who assisted the pilot in preparing the airplane for the flight reported that the pilot mentioned to him that he and the flight instructor were going up to practice some maneuvers. Additionally, a family member reported that the pilot was going to CGZ to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings.
Several witnesses reported that they observed the airplane over runway 05 in an extremely steep bank angle to the left and in a severely nose down attitude prior to impact with terrain. Two witnesses reported that the airplane was about 200 to 300 feet above the ground when it entered the steep descent.
An onsite examination of the wreckage by the NTSB and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the initial point of impact occurred about 100 feet north of the mid-field point of runway 05. After initial ground contact with the left wing, the airplane then cartwheeled in a northeasterly direction for about 50 feet before coming to rest upright and oriented on a southeasterly heading, which was perpendicular to and facing runway 05. A fire, which erupted immediately following impact, consumed various sections of the airplane. The examination further revealed that all major components necessary for flight were accounted for at the accident site.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed.
Accident Date; Friday, February 8, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Tucson
Aircraft; Cessna 152
Injuries; 1 Fatal
On February 8, 2013, about 0930 MST, after it was established on a right downwind leg for runway 6R, radio and visual contact with a Cessna 152 was lost by the air traffic control tower (ATCT) controller at Ryan Field (RYN) Tucson. Shortly thereafter, the controller noticed a dust cloud on the surface about 1 1/2 miles southwest of the airport. The dust cloud was a result of the airplane's impact with terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot received fatal injuries. The pilot had departed Tucson International Airport (TUS), with the stated intent of practicing landings and takeoffs at RYN.
The accident site was about 150 feet south of Ajo Highway. Multiple persons riding on the highway witnessed the airplane's final descent and resulting dust cloud from the impact; their view of the impact itself was occluded by vegetation. Pima County Sheriff Office (PCSO) was notified at 0937, and the first PCSO officer arrived on scene about 0940.
The main wreckage path was about 200 feet long, and oriented along a magnetic heading of about 240 degrees. The airplane came to rest inverted, with the nose oriented about 090 degrees magnetic. The underside of the nose was crushed. The engine remained attached to its mount, which remained attached to the fuselage. The propeller was separated from the engine. The nose landing gear strut remained attached, but was crushed against the firewall and lower fuselage. The aft fuselage was deflected about 90 degrees airplane left, and almost fully fracture-separated from the cabin. The empennage was essentially intact, and remained attached to the aft fuselage. The right wing was fracture-separated at its aft fuselage attach point, and the left wing remained attached to the fuselage. Both wings exhibited some leading edge crush damage. There was no post-impact fire.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in December 2011. According to the pilot's flight logbook, he had accumulated a total flight experience of about 302 hours. His most recent flight review was completed on June 29, 2012.
Maintenance records indicated the airframe and engine had a total time in service of about 8,037 hours.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight.