Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Concepcion Argentina
Thursday, August 15, 1996 18:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On August 15, 1996 about 1800 Atlantic standard time, a Bell UH-1B, LV-WAV, registered to Manuel Prieto dba Servicios Especiales S.A., operating under ICAO rules while on a business flight, lost control and crashed into a dry river bed near Concepcion, Tucuman Province, Argentina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. Two crewmembers and six passengers received fatal injuries. The Junta de Investigacion de Accidentes de Aviacion Civil, Argentina requested technical support. Mr. Joseph Syslo, Bell Helicopter TEXTRON, and Mike Cummings, Allied Signal, will be traveling to assist on the investigation, as advisors to the Accredited Representative. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Argentina. Any further information may be obtained from: Junta de Investigaciones de Accidentes de Aviacion Civil Avda Com. Pedro Zanni 250 1140 - Capital Federal Buenos Aires Republica de Argentina Tel. 541-315-2222 Fax-541-315-2600 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained for the government of Argentina.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City CONCEPCION
Event State --
Event Country ARGENTINA
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
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 Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 8
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 8
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 7000
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number MIA96WA230
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model UH-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-1B
Aircraft Serial Number 64-13933
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
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 MANUEL PRIETO
Aircraft Owner Street Address LAS HERAS, MENDOZA
Aircraft Owner City ARGENTINA
Aircraft Owner State OF
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00000
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 LAS HERAS, MENDOZA
Operator City ARGENTINA
Operator State OF
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00000
Operator Code NONE
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2001 3:26PM
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 --