ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 23144
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 3 July 2006 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Bell 206B JetRanger |
| Owner/operator: | Precision Helicopters |
| Registration: | C-GPGX |
| MSN: | 1362 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 35 NM S of Grande Prairie (CYQU), Alberta -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | Nose Mountain |
| Investigating agency: | TSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The Precision Helicopters Inc. Bell 206B helicopter, registration C-GPGX, was departing the Nose Mountain forestry observation tower in support of forest fire suppression operations. Shortly after lift-off the helicopter struck the ground killing one passenger and seriously injuring one other. The pilot and third passenger sustained minor injuries.
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors
1. The conditions of a shifting tailwind, over-gross weight, and high density altitude collectively exceeded the rotor and engine performance limits of the helicopter, and the helicopter was unable to take-off in the distance available.
2. Rotor performance was further lost when the helicopter flew out-of-ground effect over the rim of the escarpment, precipitating a degenerating situation of insufficient power available, and the helicopter could not sustain flight.
3. In the conditions encountered during the take-off, the helicopter entered a vulnerable regime where unanticipated right yaw occurs. There was insufficient tail rotor thrust to counter the torque from the main rotor, and the helicopter turned right.
4. Although the pilot’s recovery actions arrested the right turn, there was insufficient height to prevent the helicopter from striking the terrain.
5. The inhospitable characteristics of the terrain immediately below the helicopter prevented the pilot from carrying out an uneventful landing and the helicopter rolled over on touchdown.
6. The weight of the helicopter at take-off was incorrect because of inaccurate estimates of the weights of the firefighters, their gear, and the equipment. For the existing conditions, the take-off weight exceeded both the maximum gross weight limit and the hover out-of-ground effect (HOGE) ceiling limit.
7. The main rotor penetrated the left-side cockpit and cabin, contributing to the severity of the injuries to the passengers.
8. It is probable that the passenger in the rear left seat was not wearing the available shoulder harness; this likely increased the severity of his injuries.
9. There was no system in place for the Alberta Ministry of Sustainable Resource Development Forest Protection Branch (ASRD-FPB) to provide helicopter pilots with actual individual weights of fire crew and their personal gear.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
2006C1531
https://bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2006/a06w0104/a06w0104.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 12-Aug-2020 16:56 | KagurazakaHanayo | Updated [Cn, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Aug-2020 16:56 | harro | Updated [Source, Accident report, ] |
| 12-Aug-2020 19:47 | harro | Updated [Source, Accident report, ] |
| 11-Oct-2021 16:51 | harro | Updated [Date, Time] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation