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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 7, 1992 · Bell 222 · N5007L

Mariposa, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 7, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Mariposa, CA
Aircraft
Bell 222
Tail Number
N5007L
Operator
Rogers Helicopters
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92LA237

The pilot started the helicopter's engines on an intended flight prior to the accident flight. A fireman saw sparks coming from the right engine and notified the pilot. In his written statement the pilot said he shut the engines down and cancelled the flight. A medical crew member aboard the helicopter said he saw sparks coming from the engine exhaust and noticed the engine temperature 'reading well above normal.' He also said he saw the engine's chip detector light illuminate. He said the pilot 'played with the throttles a little bit to try to get the temperature under control.' The pilot shut the engines down and the non-flying crew members returned to their home base via ground transportation. The next morning the pilot attempted to ferry the aircraft with one engine. The pilot started the right engine and performed a takeoff with both engines running. After takeoff, the right engine's temperature rose and the pilot shut the engine down. The helicopter could not fly adequately with the power from the left engine and altitude could not be maintained. The helicopter collided with a tree and then the ground. Examination of the right engine revealed extensive heat damage to the gas producer turbine wheel with 20-30% deterioration of all blades.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT DECISION TO TAKEOFF AND FLY WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY IN ONE OF THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINES.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STARTED THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINES ON AN INTENDED FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. A FIREMAN SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE AND NOTIFIED THE PILOT. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT SAID HE SHUT THE ENGINES DOWN AND CANCELLED THE FLIGHT. A MEDICAL CREW MEMBER ABOARD THE HELICOPTER SAID HE SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST AND NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE 'READING WELL ABOVE NORMAL.' HE ALSO SAID HE SAW THE ENGINE'S CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT ILLUMINATE. HE SAID THE PILOT 'PLAYED WITH THE THROTTLES A LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO GET THE TEMPERATURE UNDER CONTROL.' THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINES DOWN AND THE NON-FLYING CREW MEMBERS RETURNED TO THEIR HOME BASE VIA GROUND TRANSPORTATION. THE NEXT MORNING THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FERRY THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONE ENGINE. THE PILOT STARTED THE RIGHT ENGINE AND PERFORMED A TAKEOFF WITH BOTH ENGINES RUNNING. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE'S TEMPERATURE ROSE AND THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. THE HELICOPTER COULD NOT FLY ADEQUATELY WITH THE POWER FROM THE LEFT ENGINE AND ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THEN THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED EXTENSIVE HEAT DAMAGE TO THE GAS PRODUCER TURBINE WHEEL WITH 20-30% DETERIORATION OF ALL BLADES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:19 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 222
Tail NumberN5007L
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRogers Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTS 101-650C3 · Turboshaft · 615
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data