ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 42716
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: | Tuesday 10 August 1999 |
| Time: | 17:30 |
| Type: |  Bell 206B JetRanger |
| Owner/operator: | Rapid Helicopters Incorporated |
| Registration: | N67JJ |
| MSN: | 4062 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1989 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2721 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Custer State Park, SD -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Custer, SD |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On August 10, 1999, at 1730 mountain daylight time, a Bell 206B, N67JJ, operated by Rapid Helicopters Incorporated, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain while maneuvering over Custer State Park, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 sightseeing flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; two of the passengers sustained serious injuries, and the remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated, at approximately 1715, from a private heliport located approximately 6 miles southwest of the accident site.
The helicopter impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering during a sightseeing flight over a national park. The helicopter was in a descending left turn and a high angle of bank with decreasing main rotor rpm. A low rpm warning horn was heard several seconds prior to impact with the trees. An acoustical analysis of a video tape taken by a passenger shows a decrease in the engine gear box and planetary speeds along with a steady state engine speed several seconds prior to the end of the video tape. The end of the video tape recorded the initial impact with the trees. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadvertent settling with power.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X19426&key=1
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=67JJ
Images:
Photos: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 12-Apr-2015 14:17 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 14-Dec-2017 08:46 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Oct-2022 06:29 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, Photo] |
| 12-Oct-2022 06:30 | Captain Adam | Updated [Photo] |
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