Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
Monday, March 4, 2002 12:35 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The local flight was en route to the company helipad for fuel when the engine lost power approximately 300 yards short of the helipad. During an autorotation to a road, the pilot had to execute an evasive maneuver to avoid a vehicle. Subsequently, at 10 feet agl, the main rotor blades struck 1.5 inch-diameter tree branches. The main rotor RPM decreased, the helicopter landed hard on the road, and the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom. The pilot estimated 300 pounds of fuel was on board at the time of the accident. During the inspection of the helicopter, the engine was started and test run to idle speed, and no anomalies were noted. The fuel nozzle and fuel filters were inspected, and no anomalies were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/4/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1235
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Tulsa
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74119
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360658N
Event Location Longitude 0960133W
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12782
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date Mar 4 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 1 2003 4:20PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N227H
NTSB Number FTW02LA089
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206L-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 51317
Certified Max Gross Weight 4150
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 23 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3.8
Airframe Hours 3059.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tulsa Security Patrol Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1409 S. Main St.
Aircraft Owner City Tulsa
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74119
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ACTION HELICOPTER SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 VXIR
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RVS
Departure City Tulsa
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone .A
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OK76
Destination City TULSA
Destination State OK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2002 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --