Friday, January 07, 2022

Loss of Control in Flight: Bell 47D1, N74823; accident occurred January 01, 2021 at Marana Regional Airport (KAVQ), Pima County, Arizona







Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Marana, Arizona
Accident Number: WPR21LA077
Date and Time: January 1, 2021, 13:15 Local
Registration: N74823
Aircraft: Bell 47D 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The helicopter pilot reported that, while hover taxing on the taxiway, a Cessna airplane taxied from the ramp onto the same taxiway and turned toward and approached the helicopter. The helicopter pilot assumed that the Cessna would turn onto another taxiway toward the runway, however the Cessna continued toward the helicopter. The helicopter pilot stated that he went into a vertical lift, but "due to low rotor RPM the helicopter went into a loss of control spin". The helicopter landed hard to the left of the taxiway, substantially damaging the fuselage. 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 helicopter control, which resulted in a hard landing.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Yaw control - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Taxi Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 63, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter 
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 Unknown 
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 1, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: May 30, 2020
Flight Time: 2400 hours (Total, all aircraft), 32 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Bell 
Registration: N74823
Model/Series: 47D 1
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1953
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 270
Landing Gear Type: None; Skid 
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 24, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2350 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1
Airframe Total Time: 7526 Hrs
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power:
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAVQ, 2032 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 12:15 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: / Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18.3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Tucson, AZ (KRYN)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Marana, AZ
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time: 08:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: MARANA RGNL KAVQ
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 2032 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude: 32.409556,-111.21838

1 comment:

  1. Registration. 12-May-2021 SNYDER GEORGE W, TUCSON AZ
    Certificate Issue Date 2021-05-12

    ReplyDelete