Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Memphis, Tennessee 38113
Saturday, March 22, 1986 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE MANEUVERING OVER AN OPEN FIELD, THE HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD MULTIPLE CONTACTS WITH THE TAIL BOOM, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE TAIL BOOM IN FLIGHT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT SEAT; THE STUDENT WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. FUEL QUANTITY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 GALLONS. DURATION OF FLIGHT TIME PER HOBBS WAS 1.6 HOURS. THERE WAS LITTLE FUEL FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM REVEALED NO MECHANICAL CAUSE FOR THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE DIVERGENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 0
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MEMPHIS
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38113
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 3
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 1453 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID MEM
Elevation of weather observation facility 332
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 730
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 22 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31066
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9069S
NTSB Number ATL86FA097
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 ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22
Aircraft Serial Number 0181
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 1805
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN E. CLINE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2500 BOYENSBERRY
Operator City BARTLETT
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38134
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 MEM
Departure City MEMPHIS
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1247
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --