Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Omaha, Nebraska 681051065
Wednesday, January 20, 1988 17:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HOVER AND MADE A HOVERING TURN IN PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO RISE. THE PILOT STATED LATER THAT HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A SECURITY FENCE AROUND THE HELIPORT. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN STRUCK A WIND SOCK POLE, A TREE, LIGHT POLE, AND CONCRETE BENCH DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) #67-05 HAD BEEN PARTIALLY COMPLETED. THE SB PROVIDED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ICE IN THE HYDRAULIC SERVO BY INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE COVERS. THE PROTECTIVE COVERS HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE OTHER TWO MAIN ROTOR SERVOS BUT NOT THE SERVO WHICH CONTROLLED FORE AND AFT CYCLIC CONTROL. THE OMAHA AREA EXPERIENCED FREEZING PRECIPITATION THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,THE TEMPERATURE HAD NOT RISEN ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE DAY, AND FREEZING PRECIP WAS FORECAST.THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR THIS ACFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/20/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City OMAHA
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 681051065
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 1
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1743 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID OMA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1048
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1885
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 40
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 20 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35360
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26TM
NTSB Number MKC88FA043
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS-350B
Aircraft Series Identifier AS-350B
Aircraft Serial Number 1644
Certified Max Gross Weight 4300
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2262
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES B BURR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 800 SOUTH 3110 WEST
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84603
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84603
Operator Code
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
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 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 --