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December 25, 1984 · Robinson R-22 Alpha · N8475K

Huntsville, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 25, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Huntsville, AL
Aircraft
Robinson R-22 Alpha
Tail Number
N8475K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL85FA067

A popping sound then a loud noise and a puff of smoke preceded the helicopter's fall to the ground, stated a 12 year old boy who said he saw the accident. Examination of the helicopter failed to disclose any trace of fire. However one main rotor blade contacted the left front of the cockpit and wrapped around under the helicopter. The wreckage was scattered over an area 300 x 700 ft. The passenger had about 65 hours of flight but no certificate and no known helicopter time. The PIC had previously had his commercial ASEL certificate revoked for giving flight instruction in a small airplane without having a CFI rating. The PIC had reapplied for and had been reissued his commercial certificate. He had since upgraded his certificate to an ATP for AMEL, commercial for ASEL, ASES, AMES and helicopter. He also had a CFI rating for ASMEL but not for helicopter. His flight experience could not be accurately determined because of conflicting data in airman records and pilot logs.

Full Narrative

A POPPING SOUND THEN A LOUD NOISE AND A PUFF OF SMOKE PRECEDED THE HELICOPTER'S FALL TO THE GROUND, STATED A 12 YEAR OLD BOY WHO SAID HE SAW THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY TRACE OF FIRE. HOWEVER ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED THE LEFT FRONT OF THE COCKPIT AND WRAPPED AROUND UNDER THE HELICOPTER. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA 300 X 700 FT. THE PASSENGER HAD ABOUT 65 HOURS OF FLIGHT BUT NO CERTIFICATE AND NO KNOWN HELICOPTER TIME. THE PIC HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD HIS COMMERCIAL ASEL CERTIFICATE REVOKED FOR GIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN A SMALL AIRPLANE WITHOUT HAVING A CFI RATING. THE PIC HAD REAPPLIED FOR AND HAD BEEN REISSUED HIS COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE. HE HAD SINCE UPGRADED HIS CERTIFICATE TO AN ATP FOR AMEL, COMMERCIAL FOR ASEL, ASES, AMES AND HELICOPTER. HE ALSO HAD A CFI RATING FOR ASMEL BUT NOT FOR HELICOPTER. HIS FLT EXPERIENCE COULD NOT BE ACCURATELY DETERMINED BECAUSE OF CONFLICTING DATA IN AIRMAN RECORDS AND PILOT LOGS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:05 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R-22 Alpha
Tail NumberN8475K
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2C · Reciprocating · 124
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:50

Appendix: Source Data