Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Putnam, Texas 79504
Thursday, January 9, 2003 9:43 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The single-engine helicopter impacted the ground hard during a precautionary autorotational landing following an engine overspeed indication. According to the pilot, he observed the rotor rpm increase and attempted to decrease the rpm to no avail. He then reduced the throttle and entered an autorotation. The pilot did not remember hearing an engine or rotor rpm increase. Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed the dual tachometer indicator had a faulty turbine rpm indication and depicted an overspeed situation when functionally tested. The rotor tach generator and indication tested satisfactorily. Review of the helicopter's maintenance records revealed the dual tachometer indicator was overhauled 39 days prior to the accident, and was installed on the accident helicopter 37 days prior to the accident. No other anomalies were noted with the engine or helicopter. Examination of the engine control unit's nonvolatile information revealed there was no rpm exceedence, and in fact there was an underspeed situation recorded, which was attributed to a high engine rpm indication. The pilot more than likely noted an exceedence in engine rpm on the dual tachometer and interpreted it as a rotor rpm exceedence. He then failed to confirm the indication and autorotated with an operating engine and rotor system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to properly interpret and confirm a faulty tachometer instrument indication and his improper flare during the ensuing precautionary autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the failure of the tachometer.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/9/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 943
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Putnam
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79504
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322234N
Event Location Longitude 0991012W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 952 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID ABI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1791
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 27
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 36
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16268
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jan 9 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1005
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Worth, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N115TV
NTSB Number FTW03LA080
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 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3568
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 Dec 13 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6908.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name U S Helicopters, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address Highway 74 West
Aircraft Owner City Marshville
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28103
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
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 --
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 No
Departure Airport Code MAF
Departure City Midland
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 808
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GPM
Destination City Grand Prairie
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 29 2004 11:20AM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --