by Jim Timm
The following is a report of the aviation accidents and incidents that have occurred in Arizona from late September through late October. We hope the following detailed accident information can be used to develop safety programs, and briefings that would help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and take the necessary action to prevent them from having similar occurrences.
In this reporting period aviation safety was not very good because of the number of accidents and injuries. There was one accident that occurred on September 28 with few details available at the time of publication. It has been re-run this month with detailed information from the NTSB.
In continuing with the expanded scope of the report, we’re using information from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), FAA, NTSB, and APA Members. This more inclusive information source better suites our purpose of trying to get an idea of what is happening out there so we can try to make flying safer.
In the meantime, here are the current results from the above sources.
Date: September 23, 2022
Source: FAA
Location: Deer Valley (DVT)
Type: Cessna 150
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE
When the engine failed during flight, the aircraft landed on a road two miles west of Deer Valley airport. There were no injuries or aircraft damage incurred.
Date: September 27, 2022
Source: FAA, NTSB
Location: Glendale (GEU)
Type: Ranger R7
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON TAKEOFF
A Vashon R-7 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Glendale airport. According to the pilot, he was aligned with the runway heading and applied power for takeoff. When the airplane reached 15-20 kts, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator and right wing.
Date: September 28, 2022
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Sahuarita Flying Diamond Airpark (6AZ8)
Type: Grumman American AA-5B
Injuries: 1 Fatality
CFIT ON APPROACH TO LANDING
The pilot flew from the Flying Diamond Airport (6AZ8), near Sahuarita, to Tucson Ryan Field Airport (RYN), to practice touch and go landings and then returned to 6AZ8. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), showed that the airplane departed from 6AZ8, and travelled to RYN. The airplane made three traffic patterns and then returned to 6AZ8. The airplane’s speed was about 88 knots when it crossed the runway threshold and reduced to about 65 knots when it was mid-field. The last ADS-B data point recorded the aircraft’s airspeed at about 70 knots near the departure end of the runway.
The airplane came to rest in vegetation covered terrain about 150 feet west of the departure end of runway 25. A post impact fire consumed most of the fuselage and wings.
Date: October 1, 2022
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Mesa
Type: Bell 47G
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
INFLIGHT LOSS OF POWER & FORCED LANDING
The pilot reported that on the return leg of a local flight, at an altitude of about 2,300-2,400 ft mean sea level, the engine abruptly loss power and he initiated an autorotation and landed on a residential street. During the landing sequence, the tail rotor contacted the ground. Post-accident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the helicopter’s tail rotor and tail boom were substantially damaged.
Date: October 4, 2022
Source: FAA
Location: Deer Valley (DVT)
Type: Cessna 207 Turbo
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
FLAT TIRE WHEN LANDING
In this incident, the Cessna 207 had a flat tire during its landing on RWY 7R. It went off the runway and skidded over an airport sign. There was no aircraft damage reported.
Date: October 4, 2022
Source: FAA
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Diamond DA-42
Injuries: Unknown Injuries
INFLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE
The DA-42 declared an emergency while 7 NM northeast of the airport at 7,500 ft. MSL, that they had a rudder control failure. The controller took them straight-in for a landing on RWY 21L, and Ground Control alerted dispatch of an Alert 2, and all crash vehicles were appropriately stationed along the runway. In coordination with the controller, Ground Control had the Foam Truck follow the aircraft from the runway to the ramp via taxiway Foxtrot after the landing. The DA-42 taxied to the ramp with no further issue. RWY 21L was inspected, and returned to use, and the alert was canceled.
Date: October 10, 2022
Source: FAA
Location: Avra Valley (AVQ)
Type: Cessna
210 Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LANDING GEAR MALFUNCTION
The pilot reported that this was the airplane’s first flight after an engine overhaul and airframe annual inspection.
The pilot reported that he planned a maintenance check flight, and after a normal takeoff, he retracted the landing gear. Shortly after, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he noted that the landing gear position indicator lights were not illuminated. The pilot cycled the landing gear lever, but the position indicator lights remained unchanged and did not illuminate. Using the mirrors affixed to the airframe, the pilot was able to verify that the nose landing gear appeared extended, however, the left main gear door was open and appeared abnormal. The pilot subsequently utilized the emergency hand pump to extend the landing gear but asserted that he felt no resistance or hydraulic pressure develop when the pump was actuated. The pilot then made a low pass over the runway and ground personnel confirmed that the nose landing gear was extended, however, the left and right mains were not.
The pilot remained airborne for about 50 minutes to burn off fuel before landing. The pilot subsequently landed on runway 03 and the airplane exited the left side of the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator.
Date: October 13, 2022
Source: FAA
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Bellanca 14-19-2
Injuries: 1 Minor Injury
GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING
The Bellanca Cruisemaster had the landing gear collapse during a landing and subsequent ground loop. Damage to the aircraft was minor, and there was no airport damage.
Date: October 15, 2022
Source: ASN
Location: Prescott (PRC)
Type: Aeroprakt A22LS
Injuries: 1 Minor Injury
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
While practicing touch and go's on Rwy 21R at Prescott Regional Airport (PRC), an Aeroprakt A22LS Foxbat light sport airplane experienced a runway excursion after landing and came to rest inverted. The aircraft received substantial damage.
Date: October 18, 2022
Source: ASN, FAA, NTSB
Location: Mesa (FFZ)
Type: Cessna 177RG
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
INFLIGHT LOSS OF POWER
Shortly after departing Falcon Field (FFZ), the aircraft experienced a loss of power, and the Cardinal made a forced landing in a water filled canal near the Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa.
Date: October 20, 2022
Source: APA Member
Location: Nogales (OLS)
Type: Beechcraft V35B Bonanza
Injuries: 2 Minor Injuries
CRASHED ON APPROACH TO LANDING
The pilot attempted to land on runway 21, but he had forgotten to lower his landing gear, and the prop strike damaged the prop and the runway. The pilot applied full power and did a go-around. He managed to fly a left downwind and left base for runway 21.
There is a hill to the east of runway 21, and while on final, he was not able to clear the hill, and crashed. A local mechanic and his friend got in a truck and hurried to the crash site. They found the pilot trying to extinguish the engine fire with his wife still in the airplane. The mechanic told his buddy to get the wife out of the airplane.
He noticed the pilot looking in the baggage compartment saying, "I need to find my medications."
The mechanic told him that he needed to get out of there. He refused because he now needed to find his laptop. The mechanic literally grabbed the pilot by the collar and pulled him away, and as they reached a distance of about 40 feet, the Bonanza exploded.