Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Mokelumne Hills, CA
Accident Number: WPR20CA059
Date & Time: 01/04/2020, 1209 PST
Registration: N92785
Aircraft: Sud Aviation SE 3130 ALOUETTE II
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Dynamic rollover
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot reported that, after about 20 minutes of flight in the helicopter, he returned to a private runway. The pilot descended the helicopter and began a hover-taxi from one end of the runway to the other. During the hover, the right skid contacted grass adjacent to the runway. The helicopter rolled over on its right ride, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a hover-taxi, which resulted in the helicopter's skid contacting grass and a subsequent dynamic roll-over.
Findings
Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Monitoring environment - Pilot (Cause)
Environmental issues
Object/animal/substance - Effect on operation (Cause)
Factual Information
History of Flight
Taxi
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Dynamic rollover (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 74, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/12/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/12/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1291 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Sud Aviation
Registration: N92785
Model/Series: SE 3130 ALOUETTE II No Series
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1958
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 1236
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/12/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Installed, activated
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSCK, 27 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 34 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2155 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 225°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2200 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 320°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.35 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 10°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Mokelumne Hills, CA (PVT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Mokelumne Hills, CA (PVT)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: PST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Private (PVT)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 1500 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.295556, -120.720833
A light utility helicopter crashed in the vicinity of Mokelumne Hill on Saturday, a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.
Allen Kenizter in the FAA Office of Communications said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
Kenizter said only a single pilot was reported to be on board the helicopter, which crashed under unknown circumstances.
Local authorities would likely have information related to the pilot’s condition, he said.
Representatives of Cal Fire, Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District and the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment.
According to the FAA database, the helicopter is an SE 3130 Alouette II and was manufactured in 1958. The manufacturer is French in origin and cited as SNIAS, or “Société nationale industrielle aérospatiale.” The FAA described the craft as having a turbo-shaft engine manufactured by Turbomeca.
The registered owner is a Mokelumne Hill man with an address on the 9200 block of Highway 26.
Original article ➤ https://www.uniondemocrat.com
Update at 1:30 p.m.: CAL Fire reports the Federal Aviation Administration was contacted and they have reported the helicopter crash to the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate. It is unclear if the helicopter was taking off, landing or just enroute when it plummeted to the ground.
Original post at 12:25 p.m.: Mokelumne Hill — First responders are on the scene of a helicopter crash in the area of Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County.
The incident happened on a landing strip at the end of the 8700 block of Easy Bird Road near Highways 26 and 49.
CAL Fire reports that is was the Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Chief Michael Dell'Orto who spotted the helicopter descending called it in to dispatch.
All of the occupants were able to escape from the helicopter uninjured before it burst into flames, according to CAL Fire.
Investigators are at the scene actively trying to determine what caused the crash.
There is no word on the helicopter’s make or model at this time.
Fire crews quickly put out the blaze.
There was major damage to the helicopter as a result of the crash and flames that left it charred and mangled on the airstrip, according to CAL Fire.
The crash occurred shortly after noon on Saturday.
Original article ➤ https://www.mymotherlode.com
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