14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 13, 2013 in Paradise, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/10/2015
Aircraft: CHAMPION 7GCAA, registration: N9607S
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot and passenger were flying pipeline patrol to visually inspect conditions along a gas transmission line. The wreckage was found near the bottom of a canyon adjacent to the pipeline being patrolled. A camera mounted on the airplane's left forward wing strut captured video of the accident flight. The video of the flight showed that, moments before the accident, the airplane was flying above slowly rising terrain while paralleling the canyon on its right side. About 300 ft above ground level, the airplane appeared to encounter an updraft from the canyon, and, shortly after, it entered a right roll. The airplane continued rolling right and made three rotations. During the first rotation, the airplane’s nose pitched down, and, during the second and third rotations, the airplane’s nose maintained a constant descent angle before colliding with terrain. The video revealed that all of the flight controls were intact and that the engine was operating with power at the time of the accident. The video did not reveal any evidence of an airplane malfunction. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during low-altitude maneuvering after encountering an updraft.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On August 13, 2013 about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7GCAA, N9607S, collided with the ground while maneuvering near Paradise, California. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated by AA Aerial Surveillance (AAAS), LLC, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial observation flight. The commercial pilot and Aerial Patrol Observer (APO) were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight originated from the Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California about 0850 with a destination of Chico Municipal Airport (CIC), Chico, California.
According to local law enforcement personnel, a witness was driving on California Highway 99 northbound when he saw an airplane flying near Hamlin Canyon to the east of his position. After turning onto Neal Road northeastbound, he looked to the east to see the airplane just above the tree line. The airplane was flying relatively northbound when it pitched up, banked right and then nosed down, spiraling to the ground. The witness further stated that it made 1 and 1/2 "spirals" before he lost sight of it behind trees on top of the ridgeline that bounds the north side of Hamlin Canyon.
According to a representative from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the pilot who was a co-owner of AAAS, and the APO, who was employed by Frontline Energy Services Inc. dba Frontline Energy Services (FES), were flying pipeline patrol to visually inspect conditions along a gas transmission line that serves the gas distribution system in the town of Paradise. PG&E contracted separately with AAAS to provide and fly the patrol planes, and FES to observe and document the patrols. The purpose of aerial observation flights is to inspect the pipeline right-of-way and adjacent areas for threats to the safety and integrity of gas facilities. The specific underground pipeline being patrolled at the time of the accident extended northeast along the top of a flat ridge surrounded on either side by rugged canyons. A video recording device attached to the exterior of the airplane records a view of the terrain being patrolled for later examination by a different APO.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
Pilot (Commercial Pilot, Front Cockpit)
The pilot, age 54, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a flight engineer certificate; as well as a mechanic's certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.
The pilot held an FAA second-class medical certificate that was issued on March 11, 2013 with limitations that the pilot must have available glasses for near vision. The pilot's application for that certificate reported that he had accrued 3,750 total hours and 250 in the last 6 months.
According to PG&E records, the pilot logged 74.9 hours of familiarization flight time covering various pipelines in the system flown by another experienced patrol pilot between the period of July 24, 2012 and November 27, 2012. The pilot then logged 413.6 hours of flight time as a patrol pilot accompanied with an APO from October 26, 2012 to August 12, 2013, with 269 hours of flight time logged after his FAA medical on March 11, 2013. This flight time was in both the accident airplane, as well as other aircraft. About 141.1 hours of pipeline patrol was recorded in the accident airplane in the 6 months prior to the accident.
Aerial Patrol Observer (Non-pilot rated, Rear Cockpit)
The APO directed the patrol mission, assisted the pilot as a crew member during flight operations, collected data concerning any observed threats, and communicated with the PG&E dispatchers. The APO had 70 hours of training and familiarization flights from March 5, 2013 to April 18, 2013 prior to flying 197 hours as a fully qualified patroller from May 6, 2013 until the date of the accident. In addition, the APO documented performing video review totaling 103 hours.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The two-seat, high-wing airplane, serial number (S/N) 52, was manufactured in 1966, and was powered by a Lycoming O-320-A2B engine, rated at 160 horsepower. The airplane was also equipped with a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller. The airplane was maintained under the manufacturer's approved inspection program. The airplane logbooks were not obtained during the investigation.
A Contour+2 video recorder was mounted on the left forward wing strut at about mid span position pointed about 30° below the horizon when in level cruise flight. According to PG&E, the video is used for postflight review and quality assurance. The video is collected at 30 frames per second and can store 32gigabytes of data on a microSD card located in the camera. The camera is also able to capture GPS and audio information.
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
A review of recorded data from the CIC airport automated weather observation station, located about 12 miles northwest of the accident site, revealed that at 1059, conditions were calm wind, visibility 25 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 26° C, dew point 9° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of Mercury. The remarks stated smoke in the area. At 1150, conditions were wind 200° at 4 knots, visibility 25 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 29° C, dew point 10° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of Mercury. The remarks indicated the presents of smoke in all quadrants.
A review of recorded data from the Oroville Municipal Airport (OVE), Oroville, California automated weather observation station, located about 14 miles southeast of the accident site, revealed that at 1053 conditions were variable wind at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 27° Celsius, dew point 14° Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of Mercury.
COMMUNICATIONS
TracPlus Nano GPS Transponder
The airplane was equipped with TracPlus Nano (TracPlus), a transponder that sends flight information derived from GPS data about every two minutes to an Iridium satellite which is then relayed to a server maintained by Tracplus that is accessed via a secured website by both PG&E and FES. The data consisted of exact time and date of transmission, altitude from mean sea level (msl), and latitude and longitude coordinates. Aircraft heading and ground speed is derived from the recorded parameters. The purpose of collecting this data is to monitor the patrol progress, improve operational situational awareness, and evaluate patrol process effectiveness.
The TracPlus information was used during the investigation to create a map showing the route of the airplane's flight. A map of the accident flight confirmed that the accident airplane departed from VCB at 0850, showed a normal flight path above the scheduled patrol route up to about two miles southwest of the accident site where the last position report at 1129 was automatically sent. Total duration of the patrol flight was about 2 hours and 41 minutes. The last two position reports recorded at 1127 and 1129 indicated an altitude of 689 and 761 feet msl, at a ground speed of 75 and 55 knots, respectively. The terrain in the area of the last two position reports are about 200 feet and 400 feet msl, respectively. This map can be found in the public docket for this report.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The rocky, brush-covered terrain surrounding the wreckage is on an east-facing 30° slope of a canyon. Postimpact fire was found throughout the debris path and surrounding terrain. About 21 acres of land were burned.
The debris path was about 50 feet in length and about 20 feet wide. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a rocky outcropping about 10 feet uphill from the main wreckage. The direction of the wreckage debris path was oriented on a heading of about 120° magnetic from the FIPC to the main wreckage. The main wreckage was found inverted, with the nose section on a heading of about 300 degrees magnetic.
The main wreckage was mostly consumed by postimpact fire. The aft fuselage and tail section structure was intact and partially separated near the cabin area. The tail section was lying on top of the fuselage and right wing. Both wings had extensive thermal damage. The fuel tanks were partially consumed by fire. The forward and aft wood wing spars had extensive fire damage. Flight control cable continuity was obtained from all flight controls to the cabin area. The forward control stick separated from the control linkage assembly. The forward control linkage assembly had thermal deformation. The aileron lever arms on the control stick torque tube assembly separated with overload signatures. The aileron cables remained attached to the separated lever arms. The forward and aft seat structures had impact damage and remained partially attached to the fuselage. The forward seatbelt buckle assembly including the lap belt attachment and both shoulder belt attachments were secured in the buckle. The aft seatbelt buckle was found loose from the lap belt attachment and both shoulder belt attachments. The majority of the seatbelt webbing was consumed by fire.
The engine was found inverted with thermal damage to the oil sump and accessory areas. The propeller assembly remained attached to the crankshaft propeller flange. One of the propeller blades had missing material and thermal deformation. Aluminum drippings were found directly below the damaged blade and extended in the outboard direction about 14 inches. The other blade had thermal discoloration and was undamaged. The no. 2 and 4 cylinder assemblies had thermal deformation. The no. 4 exhaust stack separated from the cylinder attachment flange.
A video recorder was found between the FIPC and the main wreckage. The video recorder had impact and thermal damage and was retained for further examination.
POST RECOVERY WRECKAGE EXAMINATION
Examination of the recovered airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
The forward seat had thermal damage. The rear seat revealed impact damage to its structure and deformation of the metal lower seat webbing.
Examination of the engine revealed impact damage to the exhaust assembly and thermal damage to several engine components. The oil sump had impact and thermal damage. The crankcase internal surfaces were examined with the use of a lighted boroscope through holes drilled in the top of the crankcase. No anomalies were noted. The induction assembly was mostly consumed by postimpact fire, and only induction elbows remained attached to the cylinders. The carburetor was mostly consumed by postimpact fire. The throttle and mixture controls remained securely attached at their respective control arms. Examination of the recovered engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy on the pilot and the APO was completed under the jurisdiction of the Butte County Sherriff's Office in Oroville, California. According to the reports, the causes of death were reported as multiple traumas due to an airplane accident.
The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory Forensic Toxicology Research Team, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of specimens of the pilot. Analysis of the specimens contained no findings for volatiles, and tested drugs. For specific test parameters and results refer to the toxicology report in the public docket for this report.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
The left forward wing strut-mounted Contour 2+ video recorder was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division for examination.
The examination revealed that the video recorder had significant structural damage, but the internal 32GB microSD card was not physically damaged. The card was removed and the accident flight was identified. The video of the accident flight was recovered without audio or GPS information.
The video of the accident flight was examined and revealed no anomalies until the airplane's upset, that began about 300 feet above the top edge of a canyon wall. Just prior to the upset, the airplane's nose pitched up and down slightly, leveled out for a few seconds before rolling to the right. The airplane continued to the right making three 360-degree rotations before colliding with terrain about 200 feet below the canyon rim. During the rotations, the nose of the airplane pitched down, and then the nose of the airplane maintained a constant angle of descent during the second and third 360-degree rotations to the FIPC. The propeller was visible and was constant in speed throughout the video. The video also revealed the shadow of the airplane several times throughout the flight and upset. For further information see the Video Recorder report in the public docket.
A video study was performed to estimate the motion of the airplane during the flight. The airplane was determined to have ground speed of about 61 mph (10 mph above the specified stall speed of 51 mph) just prior to the airplane's upset. Pitch angle increased by 8 degrees over a two-second period just prior the airplane's upset. The roll angle slowly increased from a slow to fast rate. There was no information in the video on the cause of the fast increase of roll angle. For further information see the Video Study report in the public docket.
http://registry.faa.gov/N9607S
NTSB Identification: WPR13FA370
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 13, 2013 in Paradise, CA
Aircraft: CHAMPION 7GCAA, registration: N9607S
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 13, 2013 about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7GCAA, N9607S, collided with the ground while maneuvering near Paradise, California. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated by Aerial Pipeline Services under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial observation flight. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight originated from the Nut Tree Airport (VCB), Vacaville, California about 0850 with a destination of Chico Municipal Airport (CIC), Chico, California.
According to a representative from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company, the pilot was flying pipeline patrol on a gas transmission line that services Paradise. The underground pipeline extends northeast along the top of a flat ridge surrounded on either side by rugged canyons.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a witness, who was an observer in a fire lookout tower at Sawmill Peak located nine miles northeast of the accident site, reported that a high wing airplane made approximately three large right circles and then depart to the south. The witness stated that he did not see the airplane descend or see the accident sequence.
Examination of the accident site revealed that the wreckage was located near the bottom of a canyon and was mostly consumed by postimpact fire. The debris path was about 50 feet in length and about 20 feet wide. Postimpact fire was found throughout the debris path and through surrounding terrain. About 21 acres of land was burned. All major structural components were located within the debris path. The wreckage was relocated to a secured facility for further examination.
Wreckage from plane crash that killed Vacaville pilot moved for investigation
The wreckage of a plane that crashed in Butte County, killing a Vacaville pilot and a second person on board on Tuesday morning was moved on Wednesday to a secure site north of Sacramento, a NTSB investigator said Thursday.
It's unknown what caused the crash that killed pilot Fred Lewis of AA Aerial Surveillance based out of the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville and a Frontline Energy Services employee, but the NTSB's Andrew Swicker told The Paradise Post that a preliminary report will be issued within five days.
Meanwhile, the Danville Express reported on Thursday that the Frontline Energy Services employee was Matthew Moody, 26, of Danville. However, the Butte County's Coroner's office on Thursday continued to refuse to confirm or release the names.
Swicker said he was on site on Wednesday with Cal Fire and Butte County Sheriff's office.
"We found the wreckage," he said. "The plane was completely consumed by fire and substantially damaged."
The plane was taken to the facility where Swicker said he has continued his investigation. He said the plane has been laid out at the facility.
"I've examined the frame, the wreckage is laid down and I've looked at continuity of flight controls," he said. "I brought in an expert today to look at the engine."
Swicker said that he's in the fact-finding portion of the investigation but hopes to finish his preliminary report today. It will be reviewed before being made public.
He said the Champion 7GCAA, single-engine two-seater departed from the Nut Tree Airport and its destination was Chico where it was doing a PG&E pipeline observation patrol.
Swicker said that in the Champion two-seater, "The pilot sits upfront and the observer sits in the back and it's a dual controlled."
The observer "is not necessarily a pilot, but generally goes over data. It may be camera or note taking," he said. "The observer makes sure that there are no structures near the pipelines or that no one is digging holes near it. It's a public safety thing."
Swicker said it takes between six months and a year to finish and release a final report on plane crashes because it takes time for various reports to be sent back.
For instance, he said that there will further testing on certain aspects on the plane in next couple months.
"I can't tell you what those are, but we will be looking at those further tests," he said.
http://www.thereporter.com
Photo courtesy of Facebook
A lifelong Danville resident was killed in a plane crash Tuesday morning, according to the victim's friend. Matthew Moody, 26, worked for Frontline Energy Services and was surveying gas pipes for PG&E when his plane crashed in Hamlin Canyon, about six miles southwest of Paradise, Calif. at 11:30 a.m.
Moody, 26, was the passenger in an AA Aerial Surveillance and Frontine Energy scout plane contracted to do routine patrol on a natural gas transmission pipeline. Kajal Gheewala, a friend of Moody's, said the plane had engine failure. The official cause is unknown.
"(Moody) had lived in Contra Costa County most of his life except a few years in Colorado. He loved being outdoors -- especially hiking and rock climbing in Yosemite. He was very fearless and talented and loved to cook," said Gheewala. "He also was very interested in science and astronomy."
The San Ramon Valley High graduate and the pilot have yet to be officially identified. According to the Chico Enterprise Record, the plane was a 1966 Champion, fixed-wing, single-engine two-seater purchased in 2012 and registered to Frederick Lewis, co-owner of AA Aerial Surveillance at the Nut Tree.
The plane was fully engulfed in flames when officials arrived on scene, said Miranda McAffe, Butte County Sheriff media liaison. The bodies were badly burned and the plane destroyed.
A resulting vegetation fire burned up 21 acres and closed nearby Neal Road, according to reports. Six engines, four water trucks, a bulldozer, four hand crews, two air tankers, a helicopter and a spotter plane fought the blaze. The fire did not threaten nearby homes.
A memorial service for Matthew Moody will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19 at St. Joan of Arc Church (2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Moody's name to the Yosemite Conservancy.
"Everyone who knew him thought of him as one of the nicest and most genuine people they knew," Gheewala said.
Moody is survived by his mother, father, sister, brother and girlfriend.
Source: http://www.sanramonexpress.com
Two people were killed on Tuesday morning when a plane they were flying in crashed off of Neal Road -- setting off a wildfire in Hamlin Canyon, about five miles southwest of Paradise.
PG&E spokeswoman Jan Morris said Tuesday evening that the aircraft was an AA Aerial Surveillance and Frontline Energy scout plane. The firms were contracted to do work for PG&E.
The plane was doing routine patrol from the air on a natural gas transmission pipeline located in the area. The plane was registered to an owner based out of the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville. The identities of those on board have not been confirmed.
However, the FAA's initial report identifies the plane as a Champion 7GCAA, with the registration number N9607S. A check of the registration shows the plane was a 1966 Champion, fixed-wing, single-engine two-seater purchased last year and registered to Frederick Lewis, co-owner of AA Aerial Surveillance at the Nut Tree.
The crash about 11:30 a.m. was in Hamlin Canyon, about six miles southwest of Paradise, according to Cal Fire-Butte County.
The fire was 80 percent contained by 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Chris Haile said.
According to a press release from Cal Fire, the fire was 100 percent contained by 5:30 p.m. and had burned 21 acres. Six fire engines, four water tenders, a bulldozer, four hand crews, two air tanks, one helicopter and six overheads responded to the blaze. The Butte County Sheriff's Department also responded to the emergency.
"The pilot was killed and we have no idea who he was, what the airplane was, we have no information on that," Haile said.
Morris said that their thoughts and prayers are with the companies and the families involved.
The plane was identified as possibly a "small two-seater aircraft" by Damon. Jaime Hillyard of Paradise Airport said the plane was not from their airport. It's unknown at this time where the plane was coming from and where it was headed before it crashed.
Haile added that the plane was completely gone from fire by the time his crew got down to it, so a description of the plane will be harder to come by.
"It is just too hot for us to get in there right now," Haile said at about noon as the Post arrived on scene. "It is between 10 and 12 acres."
When the fire department was able to get into the canyon to the aircraft, they had the sheriff's department come down to do an investigation.
According to a press release from the Butte County Sheriff's Department, the bodies were still in the aircraft at 5:30 p.m., and they plan on retrieving the bodies when it becomes safe to do so.
"The sheriff's department is down on the bottom with the aircraft," Haile said.
The FAA did not have any identification on the crashed plane or the occupants inside by 5:20 p.m. Tuesday. The circumstances of the crash are unknown as well, FAA Public Affairs Manager Ian Gregor said.
"Firefighters were going in to the crash site on ATVs earlier in the afternoon to try to get a data tag or N-number off the plane," he wrote in an email.
Bob Smalley, 50-year-old Paradise resident, witnessed the plane crash, and was the first to call 911 and report it, he said.
"I was coming north on 99 and saw a plane kind of circling around off to the right," Smalley said. "Then I saw it do just a spiral straight down and I was shocked because planes don't do that. No more than a minute or so after I saw the smoke." He did not recognize the plane, but did have some description of what it looked like.
"It had orange and white on it, I think it was CDF, I don't know if it was for sure," he said. "It could have been red and white, I don't know but it was a smaller plane."
The plane was later confirmed not to be CDF, and officials do not have any lead on whose plane it was, Haile said. Smalley said he called 911 to report the crash at 11:33 a.m. according to his call log on his cell phone.
The fire was expected to be cleaned up by dark on Tuesday night.
"We are cutting the line off right on the edge of the bluffs here, down to the bottom there is a road, then we will tie that in and then the fire will be contained," Haile said. "Then we will spend probably the next five (hours) mopping it up." The fire did not end up threatening any homes in the area.
Story, Videos and Photos: http://www.dailydemocrat.com
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Story, Videos and Photos: http://www.paradisepost.com
Story: http://www.knvn.com
The wreckage of a plane that crashed this morning into Hamlin Canyon, south of Neal Road, killing the pilot and igniting a 10-15 acre fire.
(Bill Husa-ChicoER)
Cal Fire - Butte County firefighter Spencer Mallinger (right) and engineer Denver Martinez (back) battle steep terrain on a vegetation fire off of Neal Rd. after a plane crashed.
(Jason Halley/ChicoER)
Cal Fire plane makes a drop along the canyon wall on a vegetation fire that started after a plane had crashed.
(Jason Halley/ChicoER)
_GALLERY.jpeg)
The ground is blackened near the scene of an airplane crash off Neal Road in Paradise.
(Jason Halley/ChicoER)
Smoke from airplane down can be seen from Neal Road exit on Highway 99.
(Bill Husa-ChicoER)
_GALLERY.jpeg)
Smoke rises from a fire caused by an airplane crash today on upper Neal Road.
(Jason Halley/ChicoER)
A helicopter drops water on a fire caused by a plane crash off Neal Road near Paradise today.
(Bill Husa/ChicoER)
_GALLERY.jpeg)
The remnants of the airplane are visible in a canyon south of Neal Road. The crash caused a small brush fire.
(Jason Halley/ChicoER)
