By Jim Timm
January 2015
The following are the preliminary NTSB reports of the aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from November thru late December. Hopefully, APA and the FAAST team can use the information from these reports to develop safety programs and briefings that will help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and thus take the action needed to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
This past reporting period has improved a bit from a flight safety standpoint in that since the last reporting period, there were three accidents. Two of them were reported by the NTSB and, at the time this report was prepared, information for one accident was only available from the Flight Safety Foundation. Unfortunately, one of the NTSB reported accidents resulted in a fatality. The other two accidents resulted in either minor or no injuries.
During this past reporting period there were two accidents reports dating back to last September and October that have finally had a detailed accident report issued. These reports are appended to the end of this month’s report.
Based on information available when this report was prepared, the reported accidents are as follows;
Accident Date: Sunday, November 30, 2014
Report Dated December 9, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 137 (Agricultural)
Location: Somerton
Aircraft Type: AIR TRACTOR AT502B
Injuries: 1 Fatal
CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERAIN
On November 30, 2014, about 0120 MST, a single-engine Air Tractor, Inc., AT-502B impacted an open field near Somerton. The airplane was operating under Federal Regulations Part 137 as a local aerial application flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed in the post crash fire. The airplane departed from a private airstrip about 0100.
According to a company representative, prior to the accident the pilot had landed the airplane and placed 100 gallons of water onboard the airplane. The intent was to do a water calibration flight to end his day. After the field had been sprayed with water, the pilot was returning to land. The company representative reported that no communications between the pilot and company pilots flying in the area were made prior to the accident.
A witness reported that he observed a fire in a nearby field, which was later identified as the accident airplane.
Visual night meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight.
No Pilot Information
Accident Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Report Dated December 4, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Mesa
Aircraft Type: Nanchang CJ-6
Injuries: 2 Minor
ENGINE FAILURE
On December 2, 2014, at 1615 MST, a Nanchang CJ-6A lost engine power and landed hard at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa. The airline transport pilot and single passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage.
The pilot stated that she intended to perform touch-and-goes in the landing pattern. The preflight, run up, and takeoff were all normal. After the first landing, she added power to takeoff, and once there was no usable runway remaining, she raised the landing gear. At 100 feet above ground level, the engine went silent. The pilot picked a clear area to fly towards and lowered the landing gear. Witnesses stated that the airplane landed hard, bounced, landed a second time, impacted a trailer, a large pole, and then came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence the right wing was separated from the fuselage.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Accident Date: Sunday, December 7, 2014
Report Dated (NTSB Report not available)
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Lake Havasu
Aircraft Type: Fouga CM-170R Magister
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL LANDING
The information for this accident came from the Flight Safety Foundation and not from an NTSB source and will be updated when NTSB information is available. Per the source information; “The aircraft sustained substantial damage subsequent to a loss of directional control during a fuel related emergency landing at a private airstrip north of Lake Havasu City. The sole pilot onboard the airplane was not injured.” From photos available, the aircraft broke in two in the landing process.
THE FOLLOWING ACCIDENTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DEVOID OF ACCIDENT INFORMATION. IN THIS JANUARY REPORTING PERIOD, THE ACCIDENT DETAILS BECAME AVAILABLE.
Accident Date: Thursday September 25, 2014
Report Dated December 5, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Sedona
Aircraft Type: Pitts S1S
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION
The pilot/builder of the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane had just completed a flight as part of the phase one flight testing. He reported an uneventful approach to landing, with the main landing gear touching down first. However, as soon as the tailwheel made contact with the runway, the airplane yawed violently to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and brake control input, but the airplane did not respond, and departed the runway descending down an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper wing spar and fuselage structure at the landing gear attach points.
Post accident examination revealed that the tailwheel was locked 90 degrees to the right. The tailwheel assembly was disassembled, and the steering arm cam spring appeared jammed between the shaft and housing. The inner surface of the housing exhibited scoring marks, consistent with a pre-existing failure of the spring. The pilot reported that he had purchased the tailwheel assembly used, and that he did not have any records indicating its manufacturer or serial number.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Failure of the tailwheel steering assembly during maneuvering flight, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Pilot Info: ATP; Commercial;Flight Engineer; MEL, SEL.
Instrument Rating Airplane.
Total Time All Aircraft; 31,293 Hrs.
Last 90 Days; 14.2 hrs.
Total Make/Model; 690 Hrs.
Total Instrument Time; 4,100 Hrs.
Accident Date: October 23, 2014
Report Dated December 4, 2014
Title 14 CFR Part 91
Location: Lake Havasu
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172R
Injuries: 1 Uninjured
LOSS OF CONTROL ON LANDING
During the landing roll in calm winds, the airplane veered to the right after the pilot depressed the brakes. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway into an area of dirt and rocks. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Info; Student Pilot, no ratings.
Total Time All Aircraft; 125 Hrs.
Total Make/Model; 125 Hrs.