ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 209842
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 19 September 1996 |
| Time: | 11:00 |
| Type: |  Hughes 369D |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | VH-PLL |
| MSN: | 970192D |
| Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | 35km NE of Tamworth, NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Calibration/Inspection |
| Departure airport: | South of Uralla, NSW |
| 15nm NE of Tamworth, NSW | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter was engaged in an aerial inspection of power transmission lines, and was being hovered at a station bonded to a conductor, whilst a linesman measured a mid-span joint. The helicopter was kept at an angle of 30 degrees to the cable, partly due to the gusty wind, and also due to the rising gradient of the power lines to the rear. However, the tail of the helicopter suddenly yawed towards the conductor. Although the pilot applied full left pedal control, the yaw persisted and the tail rotor contacted the conductor. The pilot reduced power immediately, descending the helicopter forward and right in an effort to touch down before losing control. A metallic screeching noise was heard, which was assumed to be caused by the tail rotor gearbox separating. At some point in the turn the nose dropped and the helicopter began to roll left. It then clipped part of a tree and impacted the ground. The pilot subsequently shut the engine down with the fuel cutoff lever, as his left arm was injured during the impact sequence. The ELT did not activate.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1996/aair/199602993/
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/4932168/199602993.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Apr-2018 07:31 | Pineapple | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation