Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flower Mound, Texas 75028
Saturday, April 1, 1995 21:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITH WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 10-15 KNOTS, THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED TO THE NORTH, AND THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING THE HELICOPTER IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE. DURING A RIGHT TURN TO AVOID TREES AND HOUSES, THE PILOT OBSERVED WIRES, AND CLIMBED IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THE WIRES. HOWEVER, THE TOP WIRE WAS STRUCK BY THE BOTTOM AFT PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID. DURING THE NIGHT PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A LARGE FIELD THE PILOT DETERMINED HE HAD 'STABILIZED' THE HELICOPTER ON AN EAST HEADING AND FORWARD MOVEMENT WAS STOPPED. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN WITH LATERAL MOVEMENT, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE HELICOPTER WAS AT AN ESTIMATED GROSS WEIGHT O 4,120 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT WAS 4,150 POUNDS. THE PILOT'S CURRENCY FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS AT NIGHT EXPIRED ON MARCH 11, 1995. A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUN WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN A TEST CELL AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WIND EVALUATION, AND IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN PROCEDURE, RESULTING IN DYNAMIC ROLLOVER OF THE HELICOPTER. FACTORS WERE THE TAILWIND, DARK NIGHT, AND THE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE AT NIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/1/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2130
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FLOWER MOUND
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75028
Event Date Year 1995
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 2053 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 335
Weather Observation Facility ID DFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 603
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 578
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 1 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2250
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N701EC
NTSB Number FTW95FA151
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-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L-1
Aircraft Serial Number 45396
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 Mar 6 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 4307
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RIMMER, ROY T.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4550 POST OAK PLACE, SUITE 175
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77027
Operator is an individual? --
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
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2130
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DAL
Destination City DALLAS
Destination State TX
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 --