The following are the NTSB reports of aviation accidents that occurred in Arizona from March through late April. APA uses this detailed accident information to develop safety programs, briefings, and flyers that help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others, and take the action necessary to prevent them from having similar accidents.
Aviation safety in the past reporting period has not been the best. The NTSB issued reports on two minor accidents that occurred in the last reporting period, and there was a fatal helicopter accident that happened just before this report was prepared, and the NTSB is still investigating. Of the two reports the NTSB did issue, one of them didn’t have a detailed preliminary report released.
With the virus pandemic presently in progress, and everyone staying home except to leave for essential tasks, I suspect many are hunkered down and not really flying much. As a result, the accident numbers may be down for a while as a result of this decreased flight activity.
THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENT REPORTS WERE RELEASED IN THE PAST REPORTING PERIOD
Accident Date: March 14, 2020
Preliminary Report Dated: April 6, 2020
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Scottsdale
Aircraft Type: Hawker 800XP
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
On March 14, 2020, about 1600 MST, a Raytheon Aircraft Company Hawker 800XP was substantially damaged after veering off the runway and impacting a sign at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL). The pilot and co-pilot were not injured. The pilot stated that the personal flight departed from Roger, Arkansas, about 1315 with the planned destination of Scottsdale. After an uneventful flight, the pilot made a stabilized approach to runway 21. Upon landing, the airplane touched down on the runway centerline in light and variable winds. The pilot recalled that the touchdown felt normal. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the right and the pilot added left rudder in an effort to correct. Despite his attempts of full left rudder deflection, the airplane continued to veer off the runway. The airplane continued off the runway surface and encountered large rocks located between the runway and taxiway. The airplane collided with runway lights and a sign puncturing the left wing resulting in substantial damage. Both engines sustained foreign object damage from the rocks.
The pilot opined that the loss of control was a result of the nose wheel steering wheel not being aligned correctly.
Accident Date: March 29, 2020
Preliminary Report Dated: March 30, 2020
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172
Injuries: Unknown
The NTSB only released the above accident notice and no detailed preliminary report.
THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENT IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NTSB
Accident Date: April 24, 2020
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Bell UH-H1
Injuries: 1 Fatal 1 Serious Injury
LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR IN FLIGHT
Based on a report from the Aviation Safety Network, the helicopter lost control in flight, and the tail rotor was found 1.12 miles from the main accident site. The NTSB is currently investigating.