Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orlando, Florida 32819
Friday, March 25, 1994 12:42 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, USING WATER/ALCOHOL INJECTION, THE PILOT NOTED THE N2 TURBINE SPEED INDICATION WENT TO THE TOP OF THE GAUGE. HE ROLLED OFF THROTTLE TO REDUCE THE N2 GAUGE READING; AT THE SAME TIME, HE LOOKED FOR A PLACE TO LAND. THE PILOT BELIEVED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FOR AN AUTOROTATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & CAME TO REST WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. A POSTACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR FUEL SYSTEM. TESTING OF THE WATER/ALCOHOL SOLUTION REVEALED 66.5% METHANOL & 33.5% WATER. SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED 33.5% METHANOL & 66.5% WATER, BUT ALLISON ENGINE PERSONNEL SAID THE HIGH LEVEL OF METHANOL WOULD NOT HAVE AFFECTED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. DURING A POSTACCIDENT TEST, THE ENGINE OPERATED TO FULL POWER WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. TESTING OF THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS REVEALED THE N2 GAUGE WAS PROVIDING A FAULTY INDICATION. THE OTHER ENGINE INSTRUMENTS OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CROSS-CHECK A FAULTY ENGINE SPEED INDICATION WITH OTHER ENGINE PERFORMANCE INDICATIONS TO VERIFY WHETHER AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION HAD ACTUALLY OCCURRED, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PILOT'S REACTION TO THE PERCEIVED ENGINE MALFUNCTION LED TO AN UNNECESSARY REDUCTION OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/25/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1242
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ORLANDO
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32819
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
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 1250 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MCO
Elevation of weather observation facility 96
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 685
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 25 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N16705
NTSB Number MIA94LA100
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 206L
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L
Aircraft Serial Number 4150
Certified Max Gross Weight 4150
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 23 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 11590
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNIVERSAL AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2838 SILVER RIDGE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ORLANDO
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32818
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FALCON HELICOPTER SERVICE, INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8990 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
Operator City ORLANDO
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32819
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 22 2001 3:51PM
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 Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --