NTSB Identification: GAA17CA146
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, March 12, 2017 in Julian, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/22/2017
Aircraft: KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP K 1200, registration: N675TH
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot of the helicopter reported that he had landed and was going to reposition to another company landing zone after dropping off his crew chief. The pilot opened the engine cowling to allow the engine to cool before restart. However, the pilot did not perform a thru-flight walkaround inspection and climbed into the cockpit and took off. About 60 seconds after departure, he felt a large thump throughout the airframe and then landed as soon as practicable. Upon shutdown and inspection, he noticed that the engine cowling had departed the helicopter and struck the right two main rotor blades and the vertical stabilizer, which resulted in substantial damage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendations section of the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot specified that the company has issued a policy that prohibits opening the engine cowling for the sole purpose of allowing the engine to cool. Additionally, the policy directed a pretakeoff helicopter inspection to be completed by a qualified technician.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to conduct a thru-flight walkaround inspection, which resulted in the engine cowling remaining open and subsequently separating from the helicopter and striking the main rotor blades and vertical stabilizer during departure.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Timberline Helicopters Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N675TH
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA146
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, March 12, 2017 in Julian, CA
Aircraft: KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP K 1200, registration: N675TH
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot of the helicopter reported that he had landed and was going to reposition to another company landing zone after dropping of his crew chief. The pilot opened the engine cowling to allow the engine to cool before restart. However, the pilot did not perform a thru flight walk around and climbed in to the cockpit and took off. About sixty seconds after departure, he felt a large thump throughout the airframe and landed as soon as practicable. Upon shutdown and inspection, he noticed that the engine cowling had departed the helicopter and struck the right two main rotor blades and the vertical stabilizer. Substantial damage was sustained to the right main rotor blades and the vertical stabilizer.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendations section of the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot specified that the company has issued a policy that prohibits opening the engine cowling for the sole purpose of allowing the engine to cool. Additionally, the policy directed a pre-takeoff helicopter inspection to be completed by a qualified technician.
No comments:
Post a Comment