ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 301391
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| Date: | Tuesday 22 November 2022 |
| Time: | 11:57 |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 Astro |
| Owner/operator: | Metro Networks Communications Inc |
| Registration: | N7094J |
| MSN: | 0600 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1999 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Charlotte, NC -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Aerial patrol |
| Departure airport: | WBTV Heliport, NC (NC90) |
| WBTV Heliport, NC (NC90) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On November 22, 2022, at 1157 eastern standard time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, N7094J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Charlotte, North Carolina. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight.
The purpose of the flight was to provide video training for a local staff meteorologist over a simulated news scene. About 5 minutes into the flight, the pilot began a series of left, 360° orbits over an interstate highway. During the third orbit, helicopter control was lost and the helicopter entered a steep descent until it impacted a grassy area adjacent to the highway. The pilot made a radio call before impact stating that they were “going down.” The helicopter impacted a grassy area adjacent to an interstate highway. There was no postaccident fire.
An examination of the helicopter’s flight controls after the accident revealed the forward left control rod end that should have been connected to the stationary swashplate on the main rotor was disconnected and the connecting hardware was missing. A metallurgical examination of the remaining components suggested that the connecting hardware, including a threaded bolt, nut, palnut, two washers, and two hat-shaped spacers were loose and backed out during the flight. It is unlikely that the hardware was secure before the flight and may have been loose for multiple flights before the accident.
Additional examination of the remaining hardware revealed that one of the two spacers was installed backwards, most likely during the field overhaul of the helicopter about three years before the accident. The subject hardware was required to be inspected for security by the pilot during each preflight inspection and by maintenance personnel at each 100-hour/annual inspection.
The pilot tested positive for quinine and the pain reliever tramadol and was under a physician’s care for arthritis and polyarthralgia that was unreported to the Federal Aviation Administration. However, based on the mechanical issues and the actions of the pilot immediately before the accident, performance impairments were not an issue. Thus, it is unlikely that the effects from the pilot’s use of quinine and tramadol were factors in this accident.
Probable Cause: The inadequate inspections of the forward left control rod end attachment hardware to the stationary swashplate by the pilot and by maintenance personnel, resulting in an eventual loosening and backing out of the hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://abc7chicago.com/charlotte-helicopter-crash-wbtv-jason-meyers-myers/12482328/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2-dead-north-carolina-helicopter-crash-rcna58405
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/22/us/charlotte-north-carolina-helicopter-crash/index.html
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106348
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7094J
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N7094J
https://photos-e1.flightcdn.com/photos/retriever/03f726a8ec679e781dc65d68f2407e30fb599cb9 (photo)
Location
Images:
Photo: Wreckage
Photo: Upper controls showing the disconnected forward left control rod from the stationary swashplate (NTSB)
Media:
The NTSB is investigating today's crash of a Robinson R44 Helicopter in Charlotte, North Carolina.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) November 22, 2022
#Ongoing A News Helicopter crashed today in Charlotte (North Carolina, US). The 2 aboard were killed, pilot Chip Tayag and meteorologist Jason Myers. The flight was on behalf of local TV station WBTV. Updates whenever possible. pic.twitter.com/cHznOAtA69
— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) November 22, 2022
A helicopter pilot and a meteorologist who worked for a North Carolina television station died when a news helicopter crashed along an interstate highway in the Charlotte area, according to authorities and the station. https://t.co/tu723OBrfg
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 22, 2022
TV meteorologist and helicopter pilot killed in crash next to busy Charlotte interstate https://t.co/aVcpeDHC7D
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 22, 2022
***Charlotte, NC***@IredellFirewire has confirmed the @WBTV_News helicopter “SKY 3” has crashed on the shoulder of southbound I-77 near Tyvola Road. Sadly, Meteorologist Jason Myers and Pilot Chip Tayag are confirmed deceased on the scene. pic.twitter.com/CAR3LQQjEb
— Iredell Firewire (@IredellFirewire) November 22, 2022
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Nov-2022 00:48 | Ron Averes | Added |
| 03-May-2024 20:29 | Captain Adam | Updated [Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, Photo] |
| 03-May-2024 20:30 | Captain Adam | Updated [Photo] |
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