To: Widgeon
Accidents since April 29 from the NTSB accident site. There were several more during your stated 14 day time frame. I guess the FAA is a bit slow in publishing.
On May 1, 2002, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47J-2A helicopter, N37731, was substantially damaged while landing at the Blairstown Airport, Blairstown, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the sightseeing flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he had executed an approach to a helipad located in a grass area, just east of the runway. Four tires marked the helipad, one at each corner. As the helicopter neared the ground, the tail rotor blades struck one of the tires. The helicopter then began to rotate to the left and touched down hard on the helipad, coming to rest upright.
Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the gearbox had separated from the tail boom, and the main landing skids were collapsed around both sides of the fuselage.
The recorded weather at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, included winds from 290 degrees at 8 knots.
On May 2, 2002, at 1419 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Bell 206L3 helicopter, Ecuadorian registration HC-BXA, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotational landing at the Francisco de Orellana Airport, near Coca, in the Republic of Ecuador. The commercial pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter, serial number 51606, was owned and operated by Icaro S.A., of Quito, Ecuador. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight for which a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the same location approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported to the local authorities that he was unable to maintain directional control of the helicopter after he increased collective pressure to cushion the landing during a practice autorotation.
The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Government of the Republic of Ecuador. Any further information may be obtained from:
On April 29, 2002, approximately 1830 central daylight time, an Enstrom F28 Helicopter, N383MA, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when the main rotor struck the tail boom while standing with rotors idling in the vicinity of Alsatia, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and his one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Monroe, Louisiana, at 1730.
In an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he landed in a corn field and disembarked from the helicopter while the rotors were still under power. Subsequently, a "gust of wind" came and the main rotor severed the tail boom.
