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January 20, 1988 · Aerospatiale AS-350B · N26TM

Omaha, NE

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 20, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Omaha, NE
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS-350B
Tail Number
N26TM
Operator
Rocky Mountain Helicopters
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC88FA043

The pilot picked the aircraft up to a hover and made a hovering turn in preparation for departure. The nose of the aircraft began to rise. The pilot stated later that he could not control the aircraft. The aircraft began to descend and the tail rotor struck a security fence around the heliport. The main rotor then struck a wind sock pole, a tree, light pole, and concrete bench during the accident sequence. The accomplishment of the manufacturer's Service Bulletin (SB) #67-05 had been partially completed. The SB provided for protection against ice in the hydraulic servo by installation of protective covers. The protective covers had been installed to protect the other two main rotor servos but not the servo which controlled fore and aft cyclic control. The Omaha area experienced freezing precipitation the night before the accident, the temperature had not risen above freezing during the day, and freezing precip was forecast. This was the first flight of the day for this aircraft.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HOVER AND MADE A HOVERING TURN IN PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO RISE. THE PILOT STATED LATER THAT HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A SECURITY FENCE AROUND THE HELIPORT. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN STRUCK A WIND SOCK POLE, A TREE, LIGHT POLE, AND CONCRETE BENCH DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) #67-05 HAD BEEN PARTIALLY COMPLETED. THE SB PROVIDED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ICE IN THE HYDRAULIC SERVO BY INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE COVERS. THE PROTECTIVE COVERS HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE OTHER TWO MAIN ROTOR SERVOS BUT NOT THE SERVO WHICH CONTROLLED FORE AND AFT CYCLIC CONTROL. THE OMAHA AREA EXPERIENCED FREEZING PRECIPITATION THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,THE TEMPERATURE HAD NOT RISEN ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE DAY, AND FREEZING PRECIP WAS FORECAST.THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR THIS ACFT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:10 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale AS-350B
Tail NumberN26TM
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRocky Mountain Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · ARRIEL 1B · Turboshaft · 680
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind350° @ 16 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 7 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:43
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data