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NTSB Report

November 3, 2001 · Robinson R22 · N127RB

Seagoville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 3, 2001
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Seagoville, TX
Aircraft
Robinson R22
Tail Number
N127RB
Operator
Sky Helicopters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW02FA028

The pilot-rated student receiving instruction stated that the objective of the flight lesson was to work on confined area and pinnacle landings. The student stated that he had practiced a number of confined area landings in the local area and along a river. The student added that following his last landing/takeoff, the flight instructor took over flying to give him a break. The flight instructor flew the helicopter north of the last few landing areas to review their lesson. The flight instructor turned the helicopter south and flew along the river instructing the student and commenting on the various landing areas. The student stated that he was looking over his right shoulder at one of the previous landing areas, and looked forward to see wires in front of the helicopter. The student exclaimed, "wires!" and saw the instructor pull up on the collective and left on the cyclic. The helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left; subsequently impacting trees and terrain along the left side of the river. Examination of the accident site revealed that there was a set of three unmarked wires; one which remained hanging across the river, and two others that were laying on the west bank of the river. The helicopter came to rest on its left side among trees approximately 100 yards from the wires. The wire that remained hanging across the river was approximately 40 feet above the river, and was below the tops of the trees along the banks. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the mast cowling displayed two marks and tears perpendicular to the mast.

NTSB Probable Cause

the flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance with wires while maneuvering along a river.

Full Narrative

On November 3, 2001, approximately 1230 central standard time, a Robinson R22 helicopter, N127RB, was substantially damaged when it impacted wires, trees, and terrain while maneuvering near Seagoville, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Sky Helicopters Inc., of Garland, Texas. The flight instructor sustained fatal injuries, and the pilot-rated student sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight departed Garland, Texas, approximately 1130. According to the student, the objective of the flight lesson was to work on confined area and pinnacle landings. The student stated that he had practiced a number of confined area landings in the local area and along the Trinity River. The student added that following his last landing/takeoff, the flight instructor took over flying to give him a break. The flight instructor flew the helicopter north of the last few landing areas to review their lesson. The flight instructor turned the helicopter south and flew along the river instructing the student and commenting on the various landing areas. The student stated that he was looking over his right shoulder at one of the previous landing areas, and looked forward to see wires in front of the helicopter. The student exclaimed, "wires!" and saw the instructor pull up on the collective and left on the cyclic. The helicopter pitched up and rolled to the left; subsequently impacting trees and terrain along the left side of the river. The student reported that the visibility at the time of the accident was approximately 10 miles. Examination of the accident site, by the NTSB investigator-in-charge and an FAA inspector, revealed a set of three unmarked wires, one which remained hanging across the river, and two others that were laying on the west bank of the river. The helicopter came to rest on its left side among trees approximately 100 yards from the wires. The wire that remained hanging across the river was approximately 40 feet above the river, and was below the tops of the trees along the banks. One of the tail rotor blades was found separated from the tail rotor hub, and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers were separated from the tail boom. The aforementioned items came to rest on the ground and in a tree, respectively, approximately 40 yards prior to the main wreckage. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the mast cowling displayed two marks and tears perpendicular to the mast. The flight instructor had accumulated a total of 7,171 flight hours, of which 6,976 hours were in rotorcraft and 3,800 hours were in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. The flight instructor was transported to the hospital, where he died at 1405. An autopsy conducted by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, Texas, determined the cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries." A toxicological test performed by the Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, detected atropine in the instructor's blood and liver. Atropine is typically administered as part of resuscitative efforts.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobinson R22
Tail NumberN127RB
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSky Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2C · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class · Fatal
Crew 2Age 40 · First Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.26 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data