Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Pierce, Idaho 83539
Thursday, December 28, 2000 15:05 PST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
During an aerial survey flight, the aircraft was maneuvering to position for another run along a contour line in mountainous terrain. The flight elevation along the contour was reported about 150 feet above the ground level. The terrain was covered with deciduous and coniferous trees varying in height to about 50 feet. The surviving passenger reported that the helicopter was making a descending right turn when he suddenly felt a jolt. The passenger, seated directly behind the pilot on the left side, saw the pilots head jerk up, as the helicopter pitched straight up, then fall backwards and collided with the terrain in an inverted and nose low attitude at the base of a dead tree located on an outcropping along a ridge. This tree was taller than any of the surrounding trees and the top was broken off. This snag was also dark in coloration and void of branches. Plexiglas fragments and two rivets were found embedded in the section that broke off. Structural impact signatures noted that the helicopter came in contact with the tree on the right side lower fuselage section with rearward crushing damage through the anti-torque pedals and traveling aft to the cyclic control stick socket. Wood particles were embedded within the deformed fuselage structure and also to the forward section of the landing skids. The passenger reported that he did not detect any mechanical anomalies prior to the jolt, nor did the pilot indicate any problems over the headset prior to the collision. Post-crash inspection of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
While maneuvering, clearance from an object was not maintained. A tree was a factor.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 12/28/2000 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1505 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Standard Time |
| Event City | PIERCE |
| Event State | IDAHO |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 83539 |
| Event Date Year | 2000 |
| Event Date Month | 12 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 462147N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1151859W |
| 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 | Witness |
| Time of the weather observation | |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | -- |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | -- |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | -- |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Unknown |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Unknown |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | -- |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -- |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | -- |
| Wind Speed (knots) | -- |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | -- |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 2 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 3 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 10462 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER |
| NTSB Notification Date | Dec 28 2000 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1945 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 24 2003 10:30AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\JOHB |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | SPOKANE, WASHINGTON |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N9186F |
| NTSB Number | SEA01FA032 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Company VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Hughes |
| Aircraft Model | 369HS |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 540603S |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2550 |
| 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 | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Oct 19 2000 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 43 |
| Airframe Hours | 9039 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Yes |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | PANHANDLE HELICOPTER INC. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | P.O. BOX 934 |
| Aircraft Owner City | POST FALLS |
| Aircraft Owner State | ID |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 83877 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | -- |
| Operator State | -- |
| Operator Country | -- |
| Operator Zip code | -- |
| Operator Code | PHAA |
| Owner has at least one certificate | -- |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| 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) | Other Work Use |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | -- |
| Departure City | LOWELL |
| Departure State | ID |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1450 |
| Departure Time Zone | PST |
| 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 | Maneuvering |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 14 2001 1:20PM |
| User who most recently changed record | STAM |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | -- |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |