ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 133825
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Date: | Tuesday 18 June 1996 |
Time: | 15:48 |
Type: | Bell 212 |
Owner/operator: | Rogers Helicopters |
Registration: | N91AL |
MSN: | 30821 |
Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
Total airframe hrs: | 14833 hours |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Pagosa Springs, CO -
United States of America
|
Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
Nature: | Fire fighting |
Departure airport: | |
Destination airport: | |
Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:On June 18, 1996, at 1548 mountain daylight time, a Bell 212, N91AL, collided with trees while maneuvering during a fire suppression flight 15 miles south of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The helicopter sustained substantial damage during the accident and was later destroyed during movement to storage. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for this public use aircraft flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 133. The helicopter departed a helibase 17 miles south southwest of Stevens Field in Pagosa Springs, at 1511.
According to the operator and pilot, the pilot had made four passes over the fire. On the fifth pass, which was up slope and downwind, the aircraft began to settle and the pilot reported he could not get the tank doors open. The helicopter settled into the trees within the drop zone. Density altitude at the time was approximately 12,200 feet.
On scene examination of the aircraft was conducted by the Office of Aircraft Services (OAS), and the U. S. Forest Services with assistance from Bell Helicopter Textron under the guidance of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Testing of equipment was conducted by the NTSB, Denver Field Office.
According to information provided by the above on scene entities, the accident site was a wooded area on the side of a hill, on the edge of the fire zone, at an elevation of 8,720 feet above mean sea level (msl). All portions of the wreckage were accounted for within the accident site area and the aircraft was laying on it's left side about 30 degrees left wing down.
Slashes were found in portions of downed trees, located near the aircraft, which were consistent with rotor blade slash marks and portions of the main rotor blades were found in the same area.
The helicopter exhibited fire damage in the area of the engine inlets, main gear box, and upper aft area of the passenger compartment; however, no fire damage was observed on the surrounding vegetation. The fire was extinguished by a water drop from another helicopter.
The helicopter was equipped with an Isolair liquid drop system which remained attached to the under side of the fuselage. The tank and surrounding plumbing were crushed under the wreckage. The fuselage and main cabin exhibited impact damage mainly on the right side of the belly. The cabin interior and cockpit exhibited no impact damage.
According to information provided by the on scene persons, the main transmission was displaced downward and both landing skids were separated from the cross tubes which were rotated aft. The lower wire cutter was separated from the fuselage with aft tearing and the tail boom was still attached to the fuselage with no evidence of main rotor blade impact. Both elevators were attached and damaged.
Both engines were mounted in the fuselage. There was no evidence of exterior mechanical damage and all lines remained attached and connected. The forward portion of the power section on both engines had fire damage. The upper inlet cowling, fuel lines, electrical lines, and the cowling exhibited scorching.
The main transmission was tilted forwarded approximately 20 degrees and the four lugs on the support case were fractured. The lift link was connected to the lift beam and the sump was separated from the transmission but remained in position in the airframe. The main drive shaft was disconnected at the forward end and the female coupling was fractured. The forward male coupling remained attached to the drive shaft; however, the teeth were chipped from angular over-travel of the coupling. The forward end of the drive shaft was scored from rotation and exhibited heat damage. The aft end of the main drive shaft remained connected to the combining gear box and drive continuity through the coupling was established.
The main rotor hub and blade assembly remained attached to the mast and exhibited tree strike damage with wood particles compressed into
Sources:
NTSB id 20001208X06000
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
21-Dec-2016 19:26 |
ASN Update Bot |
Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
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