Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buenos Aires Argentina
Tuesady, September 29, 1998 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On September 29, 1998, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R22B helicopter, Argentina registration LQ-BJP, operated by Policia Pcia Bs As, crashed into the ground after an in-flight separation of the tail section near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot, received fatal injuries. The flight departed from Claypole, Argentina, at an unknown time. The flight was supporting a ground mission and was at an altitude of 300 to 450 feet above the ground when the tail section of the helicopter separated in flight. The helicopter then fell to the ground and was spread over an area of about 510 feet. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Argentina. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Junta De Investigacion De Accidentes De Av. Civil Government of Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina Telephone: 011-541-381-6333 Facsimile: 011-541-381-6333 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for or released by the Government of Argentina. The Government of Argentina has requested that the parts of the helicopter be examined at the NTSB's Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BUENOS AIRES
Event State --
Event Country ARGENTINA
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 9
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 Witness
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) 12
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 0
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 21 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Mar 20 2003 3:29PM
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 MIA98WA259
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Robinson
Aircraft Model R22B
Aircraft Series Identifier R22B
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 LA PLATA AIRPORT
Operator City BUENOS AIRES
Operator State OF
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 1900
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) Aerial Observation
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 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 --