skating on thin ice !!!
 

**** 12/10/2001 Preliminary Accident/Incident Data Record 1 ****
A. Type: A Mid Air: N Missing: N Entry date: 12/07/2001 #
From: WESTERN PACIFIC REGION OPERATIONS CENTER

B. Reg. No.: 349AA M/M: AS55 Desc: AS-355/555 ECUREUIL 2, TWINSTA
Activity: Business Phase: Standing GA-A/C: Air Taxi (On Demand)
Descr: ARCTIC AIR SERVICE HELICOPTER (AEROSPATIALE AS355F1) WAS PARKED ON
WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A CEMENT PAD BUT TURNED OUT TO BE A
CONTAINER OF WATER, THE SKID BROKE THROUGH THE SURFACE, AND THE
ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN,
POINT CONCEPTION, CA.

Wx: UNKN
Damage: Substantial
C2. Injury Data: # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
D. Location. City: POINT CONCEPTION State: CA Country: US
E. Event Date: 12/06/2001 Time: 1615
F. Invest Coverage. IIC: Reg/DO: WP01 DO City: VAN NUYS
DO State: CA Others: NTSB
G. Flt Handling. Dep Pt: SANTA MARIA, CA Dep Date: 12/06/2001 Time:
Dest: UNKN Last Radio Cont: NONE Flt Plan: NONE
Last Clearance: NONE WX Briefing: N
Other:


FROM NTSB Site.

[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: widgeon ]

To: Widgeon

I don’t know if there are two Point Conceptions in California but the one I am familiar with is next to Vandenberg Airforce Base which is right on the Pacific coast. In that area I doubt seriously if ice would form on fresh water. It must have been a cover that was incapable of supporting the weight of the helicopter.

Sorry I assumed the crust was ice .

In areas around Southern California, the forest service has water tanks that are in the ground. They are made of concrete and about 15 feet wide and look like landing pads. They are about 1 or 2 feet above ground. That could be what they landed on as the ones I have seen, I do not believe that it would support the weight.

-Mark

[ 11 December 2001: Message edited by: HeliMark ]

Hey Widgeon, don't apologize to Zukerman. I lived just south of Point Conception for several years, and I saw ice once or twice. It can easily happen at higher altitudes. The locals are very unfamiliar with ice, and I had to chuckle when I read the incident report. I can just picture the Californians saying in amazement "like, it freezes, man?".

To: Weight and Balance

It is true that ice and even snow can form at higher altitudes but Pt. Conception is at sea level. I spent the better part of three years at Vandenberg Air Force base and I never saw the temp drop low enough to freeze. By the way my name is spelled Zuckerman.