Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glendale, Arizona 85340
Monday, January 9, 1995 17:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A CLEANUP RUN OVER A FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SOME TREE BRANCHES WITH THE RIGHT MAIN ROTOR BLADE WHICH RESULTED IN A SEVERE VIBRATION AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM. THE PILOT MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING INTO A MUDDY FIELD. THE TREE BRANCHES EXTENDED 15 TO 20 FEET INTO THE FIELD. THERE WERE NO RESTRICTIONS OR OBSCURATION TO VISIBILITY REPORTED BY THE PILOT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout to avoid a collision with a tree during an aerial application swath run.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/9/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GLENDALE
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85340
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 37
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 9 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N321WN
NTSB Number LAX95LA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name KAMAN
Aircraft Model HH43
Aircraft Series Identifier HH43
Aircraft Serial Number 25
Certified Max Gross Weight 8800
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 4933
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PYRAMID OIL CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 70
Aircraft Owner City LITCHFIELD PARK
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85340
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FREEWAY AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 901 N. 115 AVE.
Operator City TOLLESON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85353
Operator Code FXWG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City TOLLESON
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone MST
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 Maneuvering
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 --