Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Vicente Colombia
Friday, September 22, 2006 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On September 22, 2006, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a bell 212 helicopter, Colombian registration HK-3341, crashed while making an emergency landing near San Vicente, Colombia, while on a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed, one passenger received fatal injuries, and the pilot and co-pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from Yopal, Colombia, the same day, about 1033. The pilot stated that while in cruise flight at 9,500 feet msl, near San Vicente, Colombia, they heard a loud noise from the main transmission area. They were flying at 100 KIAS at this time. Upon hearing the noise they immediate felt a very violent vibration in the cyclic control. They reduced the collective control and the vibration reduced greatly. They then reduced the engine throttles to idle and entered an autorotation. As they descended near the ground they noticed the main rotor rpm was slowing. As they prepared for touchdown he pulled up on the collective control and the aircraft touched down with near zero forward speed. Examination of the accident site by Colombian Authorities and a representative of Bell Helicopter showed the helicopter touched down hard in a near vertical descent. The landing gear skids collapsed and the fuel tanks ruptured. A post crash fire erupted and consumed the helicopter. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Any further information can be obtained from: Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronautica Civil Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado Bogota, Colombia Telephone: 571.425.1000 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released for or obtained by the Government of Colombia.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/22/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City San Vicente
Event State --
Event Country COLOMBIA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 020907N
Event Location Longitude 0744558W
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 --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Bell Helicopter
NTSB Notification Date Sep 25 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 16 2006 9:17AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Miami International Field Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number MIA06WA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 212
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 --
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 --
Operator City Medellin
Operator State --
Operator Country CO
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Yopal
Departure State --
Departure Country CO
Departure Time 1033
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Medellin
Destination State --
Destination Country CO
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 16 2006 9:17AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --