By Jim Timm
NOVEMBER 2013
In this regular reporting of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona, we need to learn from the mistakes being made and take the necessary action to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
During this last reporting period, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) records reported two accidents that occurred within the state of Arizona. The number of accidents reported this past period is down from the last report, however there were some accidents that had not yet had reports prepared and published. These will be covered in next month’s report.
Unfortunately, one of the accidents resulted in two fatalities, the pilot and passenger. The accident occurred when the helicopter they were in appeared to have lost a rotor blade assembly in flight. The other accident, which resulted in no injuries to the pilot, was the result of the aircraft losing power during landing and made an off airport hard landing. I suspect, because of the government sequestration efforts and the government shutdown, an accident that occurred on September 1, did not contain any detailed information in the notification of the accident. The only information provided was that an accident occurred, where and when and aircraft ID. Until the FAA and NTSB has a budget and is funded again, I fear there will be a significant problem in getting accident reports in a very timely manor. Between now and January we shall see.
As mentioned earlier, additional aircraft accidents have occurred in the reporting period that had not yet been recorded and reported by the NTSB, however, as they become available, we will cover them in future reports. The number of reported accidents was significantly down this reporting period and they appear to have possibly been maintenance related. We must do what we can to examine what has happened and attempt to keep the accident and injury numbers down.
The following information was taken from the preliminary reports issued by the NTSB and contain only the initial information available and is subject to change and may contain errors. Any errors in the preliminary NTSB report will be corrected when the more detailed final report is completed, which may be a year or more later.
Accident Date; Sunday September 1, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Deer Valley
Aircraft; Cessna 172S
Injuries; Unknown
NTSB Identification: WPR13CA397
“NTSB investigators will use data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator, and will not travel in support of this investigation to prepare the aircraft accident report.”
No accident information was provided for a preliminary report. Only this accident notification information was provided. The aircraft was owned by a leasing company.
Accident Date; Saturday September 14, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Casa Grande
Aircraft; Cessna 182A
Injuries; 1 Uninjured
On September 14, about 1224 MST, a Cessna 182A experienced a loss of engine power while landing at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ). The pilot made an off airport forced landing. The airplane encountered rough terrain during the landing, which resulted in a nose-over. The commercial pilot, the sole person on board, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder.
The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that as he was approaching to land, he advanced the throttle control and the engine did not respond. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot elected to land in a field adjacent to the airport. Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Inspector revealed fuel leaking from both wing tanks. The local business flight originated from CGZ about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed.
Accident Date; Saturday September 21, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Cordes Lakes
Aircraft; Bell HU-1V
Injuries; 2 Fatal
On September 21, 1150 MST, a Bell UH-1V helicopter was destroyed when it impacted the ground near Cordes Lakes following the in-flight separation of the main rotor blade assembly. The owner/pilot and the non-pilot rated passenger were fatally injured.
The helicopter was based at Scottsdale airport (SDL) and reportedly departed SDL the morning of the accident. According to witnesses, the helicopter landed at Sedona airport (SEZ) that morning, where a fly-in and aircraft exhibition event was being held. The helicopter did not take on fuel at SEZ. On departure from SEZ, the helicopter first air-taxied northbound (which was approximately downwind) along the runway, about 100 feet above ground level. It was then observed to make a course reversal near the end of the runway, and fly along the runway before departing the area. Eyewitnesses located about 5 miles north-northeast of Cordes Lakes observed the helicopter "explode," and telephoned 911 at 1150 to report the accident.
The helicopter debris trail measured approximately 1,700 feet long, and was oriented along a magnetic track of about 160 degrees. The bulk of the helicopter, including the cockpit/cabin, engine, transmission, tail boom and tail rotor assembly, was located in or near an impact crater at the southern end of the debris trail. The debris trail included the cockpit windshields and doors, cabin sidewall, and cabin interior items. The main rotor assembly, which included the two blades and the hub, was located about 600 feet east of the debris trail. No evidence of any pre-impact failures of the engine, reduction gearbox, transmission, or tail rotor drive assemblies was observed. No evidence of fire or a high-order explosion was observed on any components found in the debris trail, and the only evidence of fire was observed in and around the main impact crater. The debris field was mapped, and the wreckage was subsequently recovered to a secure facility for detailed examination.
A partial radar track associated with the helicopter indicated that the first target was acquired at 1138, at an indicated altitude of 6,600 feet. That target was located about 12 miles from SEZ, on a magnetic bearing of 197 degrees. The last radar target associated with the helicopter was recorded at 1150, at an indicated altitude of 5,800 feet. That final target was approximately coincident with the wreckage location.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single- and multi-engine land ratings, and was issued a rotorcraft helicopter rating in May 2013. On his most recent application for an FAA medical certificate, the pilot reported that he had 1,856 total hours of flight experience. His helicopter flight training and flight examination were conducted in a Hughes 269 helicopter. The helicopter flight examiner stated that the pilot had purchased the UH-1 prior to his completion of his helicopter rating. The examiner estimated that the pilot had less than 100 hours of helicopter flight experience at the time of the accident.
FAA information indicated that the helicopter was manufactured in 1974, and was equipped with a Lycoming/Honeywell T-53 series turboshaft engine.
The SEZ 1135 automated weather observation included winds from 230 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 17 knots; visibility 10 miles, with clear skies. The 1100 winds aloft for about 6,000 feet in the general vicinity of the accident location were from 170 degrees at 13 knots.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no FAA flight plan was filed for the flight.