Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Conroe, Texas 77384
Monday, October 13, 2008 11:09 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
This report was modified on June 28, 2010.
The news helicopter was en route to cover a breaking news story. Witnesses saw the helicopter flying approximately 350 feet above the ground when it nosed over and entered a sharp 70-degree bank and dove towards the ground. The helicopter was equipped with a video camera. Analysis of the video revealed a “small perturbation in yaw (nose towards the left) followed by a return back to the right of equal magnitude.” The perturbation was “no larger or faster” than other yaw motions seen previously during the flight. About two seconds later, the helicopter began a slow, smooth roll to the right and the ground was no longer visible. The helicopter came down through trees at a 72-degree impact angle. The right skid was embedded in the ground at a 25-degree angle. Both main rotor blades bore evidence of tree strikes. The clevis ends of the pitch change tubes remained attached to their respective horns. The pitch and collective control rods remained attached to their linkages, and the linkages were attached to their respective servos. Control continuity was established. One tail rotor blade was straight and the other blade was bent 90 degrees to the plane of rotation. There was no evidence of a main rotor blade strike against the horizontal stabilizer, synchronized elevator, or finlets or tail boom. Tail rotor continuity was established. Examination of the engine revealed the Pg line was only finger tight. Later pressure testing of the Pg line disclosed no leaks. The transmission, main drive shaft, and freewheeling unit were disassembled and inspected. No anomalies were noted. The observations from witnesses and analysis of the wreckage and impact evidence indicated a loss of power event. However, the investigation could not determine the reason for the loss of control.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
This report was modified on June 28, 2010.
A loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/13/2008 |
| Event Day of the Week | Monday |
| Time of Event | 1109 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Conroe |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 77384 |
| Event Date Year | 2008 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 245239N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0902614W |
| 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 | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1148 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | IAH |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 46 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 2600 |
| 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) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 27 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 22 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 130 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 7 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.12 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 26463 |
| NTSB Notification Source | NTSB ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 28 2010 2:47PM |
| User who most recently changed record | lema |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N6ZV |
| NTSB Number | CEN09FA012 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | Ground |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BELL |
| Aircraft Model | 206 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | L-4 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 52046 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 4150 |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 1 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 4 |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 5 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Oct 6 2008 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 14 |
| Airframe Hours | 7992 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Air Sansone, LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1101 W. Edgar Rd. #405C |
| Aircraft Owner City | Linden |
| Aircraft Owner State | NJ |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 07036 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Helicopters, Inc. |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | 50000 Omega Dr. |
| Operator City | Cahokia |
| Operator State | IL |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 62206 |
| Operator Code | DDZA |
| Owner has at least one certificate | Yes - certificate holder |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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) | Business |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | HOU |
| Departure City | Houston |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1040 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | HOU |
| Destination City | Houston |
| Destination State | TX |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 14 2009 2:35PM |
| User who most recently changed record | scoa |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |