Or. Health Sci U. Helipad Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Portland, Oregon 97201
Tuesady, March 7, 1995 12:51 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING AT THE HOSPITAL HELIPORT, ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET ABOVE TOUCHDOWN, HE FELT AN IMPACT FROM THE TAIL AREA WITH IMMEDIATE SEVERE VIBRATIONS. HE ROLLED BOTH THROTTLES OFF AND COMPLETED A LANDING FROM LOW HOVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR HAD STRUCK A HELIPORT PERIMETER FENCE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE FENCE WAS BUILT WITH AN APPROXIMATE 4 INCH GAP AT MID SPAN. THE TAIL ROTOR GUARD ON THE HELICOPTER WAS ABLE TO SLIP INTO THE GAP, WHICH RESULTED IN CONTACT BETWEEN THE TAIL ROTOR AND FENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE PERIMETER FENCE WHILE LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE HELIPORT PERIMETER FENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1251
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PORTLAND
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97201
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OR. HEALTH SCI U. HELIPAD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 91OR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 600
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 Day
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 469
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 16 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 715
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N230LF
NTSB Number SEA95LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 230
Aircraft Series Identifier 230
Aircraft Serial Number 23017
Certified Max Gross Weight 8400
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours 634
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EMANUEL HOSPITAL & HEALTH CTR
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code LOVA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 7OR5
Departure City
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1243
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 91OR
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2009 2:06PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 50
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight --