Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Friday, May 7, 1982 12:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND CREW WERE USING AN AIR AMBULANCE HELICOPTER WHILE PARTICIPATING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN A SIMULATED DISASTER DRILL. DURING THE DRILL, THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF WITH TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS THAT HAD VOLUNTEERED TO ACT AS IMMOBILIZED PATIENTS. WITH THIS LOAD, IT WAS NECESSARY TO FLY WITH THE RIGHT CARGO DOOR OPEN. WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 600 FT AGL, A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT SUSPECTED A LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT A HIGH RATE OF SINK AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A STRAP, NORMALLY USED TO SECURE CARGO AND PATIENTS, HAD DEPARTED THE CABIN AREA THROUGH THE OPEN CARGO DOOR. THE STRAP HAD BECOME ENTANGLED ON THE TAIL ROTOR. ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS TORN OFF ABOUT FOUR INCHES FROM THE HUB.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/7/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1205
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JACKSONVILLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32207
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1219
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 345
Weather Observation Facility ID CRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 77
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 803
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90825
NTSB Number MIA82DA116
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 AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA-319B
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-319B
Aircraft Serial Number 2180
Certified Max Gross Weight 4950
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
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 5
Airframe Hours 4544
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84601
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City JACKSONVILLE
Departure State FL
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 JACKSONVILLE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --