Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Andros Island Burkina Faso
Wednesday, October 9, 1996 10:15 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On October 9, 1996, about 1015 Atlantic standard time, a Bell 407 N1117P, registered to Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., operated by Agrobecuriajl LTDA, as a 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight, experienced an in-flight emergency, and crashed in the vicinity of the Andros Islands during the forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and one passenger reported serious injuries. The flight originated from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, about 1 hour 21 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight when the master caution warning light illuminated followed by the restart fault advisory light. He could see the Andros Islands and elected to continue the flight. As he flew over the beach on the Andros Islands, the Full Authority Digital Engine (Electronic) Control (FADEC) horn sounded and stayed on for about 1 minute. A short time later the master caution warning light illuminated again, followed by the FADEC degraded light, FADEC fail light and engine out light. He entered an autorotation, started a flare at 50 feet, and pulled all collective pitch at 15 feet. The helicopter collided with the water and rolled over on its right side. The investigation is within the jurisdiction of the government of the Bahamas. This report is for informational purposes only and contains information collected for or released by the Bahamian government. For additional information contact: The Director of Civil Aviation P.O. Box N-975 Nassau, N.P., Bahamas Telephone: 809-377-7117

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City ANDROS ISLAND
Event State --
Event Country BURKINA FASO
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
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 Unknown
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 1100
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MYN
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 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 7000
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1117P
NTSB Number MIA97RA005
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 Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 407
Aircraft Series Identifier 407
Aircraft Serial Number
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 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
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RUA CANADA 240
Operator City SAO PAUBLO
Operator State OF
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00000
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FXE
Departure City FORT LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYEF
Destination City MOSS TOWN
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 3 2001 9:58AM
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 --