By Jim TimmJimTimm

August 2014

The following are the preliminary NTSB accident reports of the most recent aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona and hopefully the information can be used to develop safety programs and briefings that would help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others, and thus take the necessary action to prevent similar accidents from happening. Starting the beginning of this year, the NTSB extended the time permitted for investigators to issue a preliminary accident report from 30 to 90 days after the accident. As a result of this change, it continues to be be a little bit more difficult for us to be able to develop the most timely safety programs to reduce accidents. It also requires digging back a bit deeper into the records each reporting period to gather all the information.

This past reporting period has not been a very good one from a flight safety standpoint. Since the last reporting period, there were seven accidents. Unfortunately, five of the seven reported accidents were devoid of accident information at the time this report was prepared. There was one accident with two fatalities reported and fortunately, the other reported accident resulted in two uninjured. So far this year, the reports without accident details have not involved fatalities. It appears the more serious type of accident commands sufficient attention that a preliminary report is more forth coming. Unfortunately, this delay in information does not help us in laying out timely accident prevention programs. The large number of reports this month devoid of information is particularly disturbing.

Based on information available when this report was prepared, the reported accidents are as follows;


Accident Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014
Location: Grand Canyon
Aircraft Type: Kalman George Lancair 360

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Monday, May 19, 2014
Location: Buckeye
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172R

NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Sunday, June 8, 2014 Reported 6/17/2014
Title 14 CFR Public Use
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE

At 0056 MST an MD Helicopter 369E landed hard following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the City of Mesa Police Department. The commercial pilot and commercial pilot rated tactical flight officer (TFO) were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom during the accident sequence.

During the routine night patrol, while traveling 60-70 knots, about 700 feet above ground level, the pilot heard an uncharacteristic change in engine tone accompanied by a decrease in engine speed. The pilot began to diagnose the problem, during which time a series of caution warning lights illuminated followed by the engine-out tone. The pilot immediately initiated an autorotation, aiming for a tree-lined field. The helicopter cleared the trees, and prior to initiating the flare the pilot realized he needed to turn on the landing lights in order to properly see the ground. He was unable to turn them on in time, and he initiated the flare, landing the helicopter level on the skids. The main rotor blades subsequently struck and severed the tail boom just aft of the tail fairing.


Accident Date: Friday, June 20, 2014 Reported 6/2/2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Page
Aircraft Type: Mooney M20B
Injuries: 2 Fatal
UNEXPLAINED IMPACT WITH TERRAIN

On June 20, 2014, about 1430 MST, a Mooney M20B, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 35 miles southeast of the Page Municipal Airport (PGA), fatally injuring the commercial pilot and passenger. The personal cross-county flight departed PGA about 1409 for an unknown destination. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board, investigator in charge, revealed that all the major components of the airplane were contained within 85 feet of the main wreckage site.


Accident Date: Friday, June 20, 2014
Location: Scottsdale
Aircraft Type: Piper PA28-181
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Saturday, June 21, 2014
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: Beech A23-24
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE


Accident Date: Monday, June 23, 2014
Location: Tucson
Aircraft Type: Luscombe 8A
NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

 

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