Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401
Thursday, May 9, 1991 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

IN HIS INITIAL REPORTS THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN HE SAW WIRES IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CLIMBED TO AVOID THEM. IN THOSE REPORTS, HE STATED THAT HIS SKIDS CAUGHT ON THE TOP WIRE AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE INITIAL REPORTS DID NOT CONTAIN ANY INFORMATION REGARDING MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, ON HIS PILOT/OPERATOR ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEVELOPED A VIBRATION IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM AND THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHEN HE STRUCK THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE STRUCK, CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE LOOKOUT AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRES FOR SAFE OPERATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City JONESBORO
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72401
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
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 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 Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
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) 30
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) 2194
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44337
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N316FV
NTSB Number FTW91LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name VUNCANNON
Aircraft Model ROTOWAY EXEC 152
Aircraft Series Identifier ROTOWAY EX
Aircraft Serial Number 8819
Certified Max Gross Weight 830
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLOYD D. VUNCANNON
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 316A
Aircraft Owner City JONESBORO
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLOYD D. VUNCANNON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 316A
Operator City JONESBORO
Operator State AR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 72401
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City TRUMAN
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1915
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 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 --