-T / T / +T | Comment(s)

Monday, November 16, 2009

Accidents & Incidents

Date	Aircraft Type	Narrative	Death/Injury	Remarks
Oct 2, 2009 Dorrance, PA	BELL 47D1 N74004	Pilot performed preflight inspection "including checking fuel tank was full and without water or other contaminants." Cross-country flight estimated to be one hour and forty-five minutes. Pilot determined that a/c consumed 13 gallons-per-hour, resulting in total consumption of 22.8 gallons of fuel, which would leave 6 gallons remaining in 29-gallon fuel system. After one hour and twenty five minutes of flight time and 5 nautical miles from destination airport engine quit suddenly.	No injuries	After one hour and twenty five minutes of flight time and 5 nautical miles from destination airport engine quit suddenly. Pilot performed autorotation, however, tail boom impacted dirt and stone pile causing substantial damage to tail boom. Post accident examination by FAA inspector revealed that "the fuel tank was empty" and a "small amount of fuel was found in both the carburetor and the gascolator."
Oct 16, 2009 Meiners Oaks, CA	BOYKIN STEPHEN VANCE ROTORWAY E N496SB	Pilot completed emergency off-airport landing, in mountainous terrain, to avoid poor weather and fog during cross-country flight in single engine helicopter. Sat in position for forty minutes to burn off fuel and lighten the aircraft. Pilot then lifted off and repositioned a/c to nearby dirt road. Pilot sat in position for one hour to "burn off as much fuel as I could to lighten the ship."	No injuries	Pilot departed second time; however, during takeoff a/c "didn't have enough lift" and subsequently settled and collided with terrain. Pilot said thought was taking off into the wind, instead took off with a tailwind.
Oct 22, 2009 Athens, GA	Experimental Fuji LM-1, N2121J	Impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 27 at Athens/Ben Epps Airport (AHN). Airline transport pilot-rated owner and pilot-rated passenger fatally injured. The Fuji was a Japanese redesign and manufacture of the Beech T-34 Mentor. Fuji was four-place, low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction equipped with Teledyne Continental O-470 series piston engine, and dual flight controls. A/c was manufactured in 1957. Witnesses familiar with Fuji said initial pitch attitude appeared slightly high, and Fuji was rocking slightly about its longitudinal axis.	Two fatalities	Pitch returned to "a normal climb attitude" and rocking stopped, and Fuji then entered slight left turn. Witnesses observed Fuji cease its climb and make left turn about same time; they estimated that Fuji's maximum altitude was between 500-1,000 feet agl. Fuji then began to descend, and soon thereafter re-entered left turn. Left wing dropped sharply, Fuji began a spin to left and disappeared from witnesses' view. One witness stated that spin began when Fuji was150 feet above trees.
Oct 26, 2009 Corpus Christi, TX	Beech B100 King Air N729MS	A/c owned by Mazak Properties and operated by private pilot impacted terrain after encountering severe weather near Benavides, TX Flight departed Garner Field Airport (KUVA) Uvalde, TX, and was destined for Leesburg International Airport (KLEE), Leesburg, FL. The pilot was provided information regarding the severe weather conditions along planned route of flight. Pilot expressed concern about conditions and altered route further S so he could maneuver around and through "holes" in weather. Controller transmitted, "November niner mike sierra verify you're level flight level two five zero." Pilot replied, "No sir, we had dropped down to - we'd gotten into some pretty good turbulence we're at two four zero."	Four fatalities	Controller responded, "November niner mike sierra you've got to tell me these things...I've got a MOA below you at flight level two three zero and below so november niner mike sierra when able maintain flight level two five zero." Pilot transmitted, "Yes sir um I'm sorry sir.'" Controller then asked,"...and uh any injuries or uh damage?" Pilot did not reply and there were no further communications. Overall wreckage distribution was consistent with a/c breaking apart in flight prior to impact with ground.
Oct 30, 2009 Lawerenceville, GA	CESSNA 310J N308J	A/c registered to KM Aviation and operated by private pilot impacted house shortly after takeoff from runway 7, at Gwinnett County airport-Biscoe Field, (LZU). Witnesses who could hear a/c but not see it right away due to overcast conditions, stated that a/c sounded normal but at low altitude, then they	Two fatalities	heard engines go to what they believed was full power. One witness stated that a/c came "screaming" out of sky in right wing low attitude, hit tree and then house and exploded. Another witness who saw a/c as it descended out of overcast said a/c was rolled right and engines were at full power.
Oct 31, 2009 Sikeston, MO	PIPER PA-18 N1198C	Ac/ destroyed by post impact fire when impacted metal shed during takeoff roll from private grass airstrip	Two fatalities	Pilot and pilot rated passenger received fatal injuries. Personal flight was departed airstrip with Cape Girardeau, Missouri as destination.
Nov 01, 2009 Middlefield, OH	Blanik L-13 N1142	Glider sustained substantial damage when impacted terrain after released tow line about 200 - 300 feet above ground level during takeoff climb from Geauga County Airport (7G8).	Two serious	Pilot of tow airplane reported over radio that engine was running rough. Glider pilot released tow line and attempted to return to runway, but impacted terrain during turn back to airport. Tow airplane returned to airport without incident.
Nov 01, 2009 High Island A-442A, GM	BELL 206 N272M	A/c operated by Rotorcraft Leasing Company substantially damaged when impacted water following loss of engine power shortly after lifting off from oil drilling platform. Flight had just originated from platform High Island A442A and was en route to platform High Island A515, both in Gulf of Mexico.	One serious	A/c had landed on platform and was refueled. It then took off with one passenger. Shortly after lifting off, engine lost power and pilot made a forced landing in the water. Just before touching down, the pilot inflated the pontoons. The helicopter settled in the water and rolled inverted.
Nov 02, 2009 Phoenix, AZ	MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-90-30 N909DA	DELTA AIR LINES MD-90-30 substantially damaged following an in-flight collision with birds during climb to cruise flight NE of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Flight was 25 miles NE of PHX, climbing through 12,000 feet mean sea level, when a/c struck flock of birds. Following collision, flight crew diverted to PHX and landed uneventfully 10 minutes later.	No injuries	Examination of a/c by maintenance personnel revealed 18 inch tear in fuselage skin located aft of right side flight deck eyebrow window.
Nov. 3, 2a0089 Harare, Zimbabwe	MA-60	Air Zimbabwe a/c collided with five wild pigs on the runway at Harare's airport during takeoff. All 34 people on board were evacuated safely.	No injuries	the Air Zimbabwe plane was headed from Harare to Bulawayo. A/c's undercarriage collapsed on impact and iwhen veered off runway, damaging plane's nose, one engine and wing. No word on what became of pigs.
Nov 04, 2009 Brenham, TX	BEECH 95 N725GS	A/c substantially damaged during forced landing following loss of engine power shortly after departure from Brenham Municipal Airport (11R).	One serious	Pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries.. A/c was registered and operated by private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plan not filed flight.
Nov 6, 2009	unavail	Plane crashed in northwestern Ontario. Pilot and two passengers on Lockhart Air Service charter plane were en route to Cat Lake First Nation from Sioux Lookout when they were reported missing.	Three fatalities	Crew of Hercules from CFB Trenton found a//c. Two technicians jumped from search aircraft at night under flares into dense forest where found all dead in the wreckage. Cat Lake First Nation is isolated First Nations community of 550 people accessible only by air.
Nov. 9, 2009 Nairobi, Kenya	Beechcraft 1900D	Cargo plane operated by Blue Bird Aviation destroyed when crashed on approach to Nairobi-Wilson Airport (WIL), Kenya. A/c departed Wilson Airport transporting a cargo of miraa to Quarrel airport in Mogadishu, Somalia.	One fatality	Crew decided to return to airport when problem developed in flight. The airplane struck perimeter fence on landing, crashed and broke up.
Nov. 12, 2009 Kigali Airport Rwanda	Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-100ER 5Y-JLD	A/c operating for Rwandair Express, substantially damaged when struck airport building at Kigali Airport (KGL), Rwanda. One passenger killed.	One fatality	A/c on scheduled international flight to Entebbe Airport (EBB), Uganda. Two minutes after takeoff, pilot requested to return because of unspecified technical problems. A/c landed safely and taxied back to apron. However, when t/ac reached parking spot in front of VIP lounge, pilot said engines failed to stop and running at " 100 percent power."

blog comments powered by Disqus