Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jackson, Wyoming 83001
Thursday, August 31, 2000 10:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While sitting on the ground waiting to board passengers, with the rotors turning at flight rpm, the helicopter settled to the right rear striking the right horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor. Subsequently, the helicopter became airborne and spun several times before the pilot secured the power and made a forced landing. During landing, the aft landing gear cross tube collapsed and the fuselage was substantially damaged. Examination of the helicopter following the accident provided evidence of improper maintenance to the skid landing gear. No procedural errors by the pilot, in the operation of the helicopter, were found during the investigation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of control for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2000
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1055
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City JACKSON
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83001
Event Date Year 2000
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JAC
Elevation of weather observation facility 6445
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 54
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 43
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 7100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10809
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 31 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1257
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2001 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8224V
NTSB Number DEN00TA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 212
Aircraft Series Identifier 212
Aircraft Serial Number 30808
Certified Max Gross Weight 11200
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 15
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 10 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59
Airframe Hours 1369
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOUSTON HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.0. BOX 830
Aircraft Owner City PEARLAND
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77588
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOUSTON HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code GURG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code JAC
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 Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 5 2001 4:45AM
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 --