Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nome, Alaska 99762
Sunday, August 23, 1992 16:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN APPROX 5-FT HOVER, THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE DUAL CYCLIC CONTROL STICK FORWARD, AND BEFORE HE COULD TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE 15-20 DEG SLOPE. THE PILOT ABRUPTLY MOVED HIS CYCLIC CONTROL STICK AFT, THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AND CUT OFF THE TAILBOOM. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PASSENGER TO VIDEOTAPE WILDLIFE THROUGH THE LEFT DOOR, WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE BUT HE DID NOT THINK HE HAD PUSHED THE CONTROL STICK. HE THOUGHT THE PILOT HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THE WILDLIFE AND INADVERTENTLY HIT THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone --
Event City NOME
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99762
Event Date Year 1992
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1015
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 23 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51320
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5006M
NTSB Number ANC92LA144
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269A
Aircraft Series Identifier 269A
Aircraft Serial Number 65-18259
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 21 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 133
Airframe Hours 4212
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH, TIMOTHY E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 747
Aircraft Owner City NOME
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99762
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SMITH, TIMOTHY E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 747
Operator City NOME
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99762
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OME
Departure City NOME
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --