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| Date: | Thursday 29 May 2008 |
| Time: | 14:13 LT |
| Type: |  Bell UH-1N Iroquois |
| Owner/operator: | Servicio Aéreo Nacional (SAN) |
| Registration: | SAN-100 |
| MSN: | 31434 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1972 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 12 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Calidonia, Panama City -
 Panama
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Colón-Enrique A. Jiménez Airport (ONX/MPEJ) |
| Miramar International Hotel Helipad |
The Bell UH-1N Iroquois helicopter, carrying Chile's top police chief, crashed into a building in Panama City.
The helicopter was scheduled to depart from Tocumen Airport with destination Colón and then from Colón to Miramar International Hotel.
Probable Cause:
The inadequate handling of emergency procedures due to Engine No. 1 failure by the pilot, at the time of being in the final approach phase in the Miramar Hotel landing area.
Other Analyzed Factors:
- The critical condition of the flight phase at the time of the failure of Engine No. 1.
- The decisions made by the pilot following the failure of Engine No. 1 with respect to turns to the left and right, without having regained the rotor revolutions, losing essential aerodynamic conditions to keep the aircraft in flight.
- The failure to comply with the procedures contained in the flight manual of the aircraft, in case of an engine failure during flight.
- Not having corrected the condition of low revolutions of the main rotor to be able to operate the aircraft within the performance table.
- Beginning the approach to the city without having achieved control of the aircraft’s flight.
- Having experienced the failure of Engine No. 1 under unfavorable conditions of weight, speed, altitude, temperature, and tailwind.
- The instinctive reaction of the pilot.
- The lack of proficiency of the crew on the aircraft.
- The lack of adherence to the crew proficiency program.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. https://www.prensa.com/local_2008052914351760.shtml
2. https://www.prensa.com/local_2008052915083932.shtml https://www.prensa.com/local_2008052914045481.shtml
http://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/Gobierno-publico-orden-compra-helicoptero_0_44695539.html
http://www.sanp.gob.pa/2do.htm
https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=NYC08RA197&rpt=fa
https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20080610X00823&key=1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 29-May-2008 21:06 | p4c0 | Added |
| 29-May-2008 21:10 | harro | Updated |
| 29-May-2008 23:12 | p4c0 | Updated |
| 29-May-2008 23:14 | Fusko | Updated |
| 30-May-2008 01:48 | Dmitriy | Updated |
| 30-May-2008 10:08 | p4c0 | Updated |
| 31-May-2008 23:26 | hp-1202ps | Updated |
| 01-Nov-2008 23:16 | RobertMB | Updated |
| 01-Jun-2010 06:52 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Other fatalities, Source, ] |
| 08-Nov-2013 16:50 | TB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 19-Jan-2025 11:05 | ASN | Updated [Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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