Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami, Florida 33187
Monday, April 17, 1989 10:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PLT WITH NO HELICOPTER RATING LANDED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL CENTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING A CONVICTED DRUG SMUGGLER CONFINED TO A LIFE TERM TO ESCAPE. DURING LIFT-OFF, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A CONCERTINA WIRE-TOPPED FENCE & CRASHED. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE ARRESTED & TRANSPORTED TO THE PRISON WARD OF A LOCAL HOSPITAL. NTSB FORM 6120.1, REPORT OF ACFT ACCIDENT WAS NOT RETURNED BY THE PLT TO THE NTSB'S MIAMI REGIONAL OFFICE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE UNQUALIFIED PERSONS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE FENCE. PRESSURE INDUCED BY OTHERS, LACK OF EXPERIENCE, AND OVER CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIAMI
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33187
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 951 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID TMB
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 692
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 17 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38148
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N342L
NTSB Number MIA89LA133
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 47D1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47D1
Aircraft Serial Number 611
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVENS, CHARLES C
Aircraft Owner Street Address 94478 MEYERS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City GOLD BEACH
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97465
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STEVENS, CHARLIE C.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 94478 MEYERS ROAD
Operator City GOLD BEACH
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97465
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TMB
Departure City MIAMI
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --