Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087
Sunday, May 8, 1994 19:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN LANDED IN A RESIDENTIAL CUL-DE-SAC. IT REMAINED PARKED THERE WHILE THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER ATE AT A NEARBY RESIDENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A TELEPHONE WIRE WAS LOCATED BEHIND, AND ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT. ON DEPARTURE, THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE WIRE WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE TO BEGIN THE TRANSITION FROM A HOVER TO FORWARD FLIGHT. AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS AND AN AUTOROTATION WAS MADE BACK TO THE STREET. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, WHICH RESULTED IN SPREADING THE SKIDS AND BENDING THE HELICOPTER FRAME. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE TAIL ROTOR WAS MANGLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper vertical takeoff in that he allowed the helicopter to drift rearward, and his failure to maintain clearance from the wire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City STONE MOUNTAIN
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30087
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
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 1947 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID PDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1002
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
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) 1155
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 8 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54BA
NTSB Number ATL94LA094
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 R-22B
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22B
Aircraft Serial Number 1888
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREAT SOUTHEASTERN ACFT LEASIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2316 BAYNARD BLVD
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BEEGLE, PHILLIP H., JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 848 COPELAND ROAD
Operator City NEWNAN
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30263
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --