Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cuernavaca Mexico
Friday, August 15, 1997 10:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On August 15, 1997, at 1040 central daylight time, a Bell 412HP helicopter, Mexican registration XCPFI, was destroyed upon impact with single family residences while maneuvering near Cuernavaca, State of Morelos, in the Republic of Mexico. The commercial pilot, his co-pilot and the 6 passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was owned by Servicios Aereos del Centro S.A.(SACSA), and being operated by the Policia Federal de Caminos (PFC) as a public use executive transport flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The flight boarded the 6 passengers and departed from a helipad operated by State of Morelos at Cuernavaca approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Mexico. Any further information may be obtained from: Subsecretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes Direccion General de Aviacion Civil (DGAC) Providencia 807- Cuarto Piso Colonia del Valle 03100 Mexico, D.F. This report is informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Mexico.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CUERNAVACA
Event State --
Event Country MEXICO
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1997
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 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 MMC
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 22000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 15 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1450
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2003 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number FTW97RA314
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 412HP
Aircraft Series Identifier 412HP
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 --
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 BASE DE VILLA COAPA
Operator City MEXICO D.F.
Operator State MX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 04890
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MCB
Departure City
Departure State MX
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 Maneuvering
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 --