Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lares
Thursday, April 29, 1999 11:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to transport a sick worker to his house. The flight departed and after arriving in the area, he circled it several times to look for obstructions, noting power lines that were near the intended touchdown location. When the helicopter was about 10 feet above ground level, the passenger mentioned for the first time to watch out for a wire (determined to be a suspended garden hose). He became distracted by the comment from the passenger and diverted his attention to look for the wire. The helicopter touched down in a side slip on uneven terrain; experienced dynamic rollover, and came to rest on the left side. The pilot further stated that there was no airframe, engine, or flight control preimpact failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper touchdown by the pilot resulting in dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/29/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City LARES
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00669
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 268
Weather Observation Facility ID MAZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 29
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 342
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 3 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1238
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2314T
NTSB Number MIA99LA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R22 BETA
Aircraft Series Identifier R22 BETA
Aircraft Serial Number 1977
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 14 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 69
Airframe Hours 986
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNIVERSAL DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1927
Aircraft Owner City VEGA ALTA
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 692
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOSE O. REYES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MAZ
Departure City MAYAGUEZ
Departure State PR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --