Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Banda Ache Indonesia
Tuesady, March 29, 2005

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On March 29, 2005, approximately 0035 local time, a Bell UH-1F helicopter, N4040P, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing after a loss of control while repositioning near Banda Ache, Sumatra, Indonesia. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Tamarack Air Services, LLC, Stevensville, Montana. The pilot-in-command, co-pilot, aircraft mechanic, and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight. The helicopter departed the Banda Ache International Airport at 0012. It was reported by the pilot-in-command (PIC) that during the repositioning sequence the crew heard a "loud screeching noise from the rear of the aircraft." The PIC stated that he knew he had a serious problem and a few seconds later he lost tail rotor authority, which necessitated an autorotation. The PIC reported that he made a forced landing into a steep drainage [ditch], and at touchdown the helicopter struck trees and settled into the ditch backwards. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Malaysia. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Dato' Jr. Soo Chon KOK Director General of Civil Aviation Department of Civil Aviation Level 3, Block D5, Parcel D Federal Government Administrative Centre 62502 Putrajaya

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/29/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 35
Event Time Zone --
Event City Banda Ache
Event State --
Event Country INDONESIA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2005
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 --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
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 --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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 --
Wind Gust (knots) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Tamarack Air Services
NTSB Notification Date May 3 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 3:31PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4040P
NTSB Number SEA05WA091
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model UH-1F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
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 --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address 548 Hohenstien Lane
Operator City Stevensville
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59870
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Banda Ache
Departure State --
Departure Country ID
Departure Time 12
Departure Time Zone --
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? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 9 2008 10:50AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --