Brutal January-NTSB summary.

[John90290]

Event Location Make / Model Regist. Event Type of Air Carrier Operation

Date Number Severity

 

1/27/2006 Lorca, Murcia, Spain Robinson R-44 EC-JOG Fatal(3) Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

1/17/2006 Cape Point, South Africa Robinson R22 ZS-RXA Fatal(1) Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

1/15/2006 Mariental, Namibia Robinson R22 V5-HSL Fatal(1) Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

1/1/2006 Grand Ridge, FL Robinson R44 N442DH Fatal(3) Part 91: General Aviation

1/19/2006 Fort Worth, TX Agusta A109E N142CF Nonfatal Part 91: General Aviation

1/18/2006 Ely, NV Croman SH-3H N612CK Nonfatal Part 91: General Aviation

1/12/2006 Ponce, PR MBB BO-105S N495LF Nonfatal NSCH Part 135:

1/12/2006 Eagle Pass, TX AS350-B2 N840BP Nonfatal Public Use

1/10/2006 Kaupo, HI AS350BA N3607P Nonfatal NSCH Part 135:

1/5/2006 Lahaina, HI EC 130B4 N11QD Nonfatal NSCH Part 135:

[birddog]

I will be curious to hear the findings on the R44 crash in FL. Anyone know any additional information on it?

 

 

 

birddog

 

 

 

Event Location Make / Model Regist. Event Type of Air Carrier Operation

Date Number Severity

 

1/27/2006 Lorca, Murcia, Spain Robinson R-44 EC-JOG Fatal(3) Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

1/17/2006 Cape Point, South Africa Robinson R22 ZS-RXA Fatal(1) Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

1/15/2006 Mariental, Namibia Robinson R22 V5-HSL Fatal(1) Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

1/1/2006 Grand Ridge, FL Robinson R44 N442DH Fatal(3) Part 91: General Aviation

1/19/2006 Fort Worth, TX Agusta A109E N142CF Nonfatal Part 91: General Aviation

1/18/2006 Ely, NV Croman SH-3H N612CK Nonfatal Part 91: General Aviation

1/12/2006 Ponce, PR MBB BO-105S N495LF Nonfatal NSCH Part 135:

1/12/2006 Eagle Pass, TX AS350-B2 N840BP Nonfatal Public Use

1/10/2006 Kaupo, HI AS350BA N3607P Nonfatal NSCH Part 135:

1/5/2006 Lahaina, HI EC 130B4 N11QD Nonfatal NSCH Part 135:

[warpig]

On January 1, 2006, about 1900 central standard time, a Robinson R44, N442DH, registered to a private individual, collided with trees then terrain near Grand Ridge, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight. The helicopter was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire and the commercial-rated pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about 5 minutes earlier from the parking lot of a nearby hotel.

 

Witnesses reported to Jackson County Sheriff's Office that the helicopter landed in a parking lot of a hotel and the occupants inquired at the hotel about the price of a room. After being told about the price the occupants walked to a restaurant located at a truck stop across the street from the hotel. The occupants ate at the restaurant, departed there and went to the helicopter. The helicopter was observed departing from the hotel parking lot, flew over a building near the truck stop, then proceeded southbound.

 

An individual contacted the Jackson County Sheriff's Office on January 4th between 1000 and 1030 hours, and reported that on the day of the accident at approximately 1900, while driving on I-10, he saw an explosion. The individual pointed out the area where the explosion was noted, and the wreckage was located.

 

According to the one of the three owners of the helicopter, it had been in Mississippi to provide hurricane relief; where damage to the tailboom occurred due to a failure of the tailrotor drive shaft bearing. The tailboom was replaced, along with the tailrotor drive shaft damper bearing. Following the repairs, the accident pilot was tasked with ferrying the helicopter from Mississippi, to North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida. The owner further reported that on the day of the accident at an unknown time, the pilot contacted him and advised the flight was north of Pensacola, Florida. The owner contacted the pilot between 1800 and 1900 hours, and the pilot advised at that time that the flight was near Tallahassee, Florida, where he landed due to adverse weather, and would call before he left there. He (one of the owner's) figured the pilot had spent the night in Tallahassee, and the next day, January 2nd, he attempted to contact the pilot but was unsuccessful. He knew the weather was bad and believed the pilot spent the day in Tallahassee. On January 3rd, when the pilot had not contacted him he contacted the Cross City and Tallahassee Commercial airports to see if the pilot had landed there. He also contacted Miami Automated Flight Service Station and inquired if there had been a flight plan or weather briefing. He was advised there was no flight plan on file or a weather briefing. He remained in contact with the Miami AFSS and was advised on January 4th, that the wreckage was located.

 

Preliminary examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter collided with trees approximately 40 feet above ground level while on a magnetic heading of approximately 020 degrees. The accident site was located south of I-10, which is an interstate highway oriented in a northwest by southeast direction. Following the initial tree contact, the helicopter descended, collided with additional trees then the ground, and was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire.