safe flying

[widgeon]

I generally check the FAA accident site and this is the first day I can recall seeing a whole table with no rotrocraft incidents for the last 14 days.

[Lu Zuckerman]

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.


:eek:

[Nick Lappos]

Yea:

"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. "

I hate it when I fly into the twilight zone, and physics is reversed and everything goes backwards! Its a real bitch pulling on my socks when friction is negative, and pouring my coffee is difficult when gravity is reversed.

Or maybe its when an FAA examiner gets the facts wrong, but.... NO that can't ever happen!

[heedm]

He lost the gearbox, so the helicopter was lighter, so he had to lower collective to land, hence rotate left :D .

Maybe it was southern hemisphere ( anyone know where New Jersey is? ) or gyroscopic precession. Dave?

[Flight Safety]

Maybe the tail boom moved left from the impact point, where the TR blades stuck the tire....hence the left movement reference.

[Skycop9]

What? The F.A.A. could possibly make a mistake. It is the only agency (other than the IRS) that makes you prove yourself innocent. And like the case of Bob Hoover, when you take them to court and win they reverse the judges ruling.

[widgeon]

ALso of note the AAIB site for april and may have no rotorcraft incidents.
http://www.aaib.detr.gov.uk/bulletin/may02/may02in.htm

[The Nr Fairy]

I beg to differ, widgeon, although on a matter of purely technical interest.

The last report in May's index is about a fatal accident in a gyroplane - technically a rotorcraft, if not a helicopter.

[widgeon]

Point taken , and of course today there are 2 new ones on the FAA site but on the whole there seem to be far less but maybe people are flying less.