ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30296
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: | Tuesday 28 December 1999 |
| Time: | 11:50 LT |
| Type: |  Aérospatiale AS 350D Ecureuil |
| Owner/operator: | Island Express Helicopters, Inc. |
| Registration: | N3593S |
| MSN: | 1063 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 14085 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming LTS-101-A3A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Santa Catalina Island, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Avalon, CA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter collided with terrain following a loss of engine power while maneuvering at low level on a sightseeing flight. As the helicopter passed about 250 feet above ground level (agl) over a ridgeline, the pilot began a descending and decelerating right turn to observe a herd of buffalo. About midway down the ridge, the low rotor rpm warning horn sounded. The pilot lowered collective and the horn stayed on. He noted the rotor speed was down between 300 and 320 rpm and concluded that he would have to make an immediate landing. The helicopter landed downslope at an estimated 10 to 15 mph, and the tail rotor struck the ground first. The helicopter pitched forward, continued to slide down the hill, collided with trees, and rolled onto its right side. An 80-psi check of the pneumatic system revealed two calibrated leaks and an additional leak. The attachment fitting for the P3 air accumulator on the governor pressure (Pg) line was 3/4 of a turn loose. The engine was removed and shipped to the manufacturer for testing. Several discrepancies due to damaged hardware were corrected during preparation for the test run. The engine was placed in a test stand and started normally. The engine completed a test protocol with no discrepancies noted. The P3 accumulator fitting was loosened and the engine immediately went to flight idle. The engine would not accelerate above idle power with the P3 accumulator fitting loose. Once the fitting was loosened less than finger tight, it continued to loosen to 3/4 to a full turn loose.
Probable Cause: A loose pneumatic fitting caused the engine to go to flight idle power at a low altitude, which resulted in a forced landing in hilly terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX00FA061
FAA register: FAA register: 2. http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=3593S
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 07-Jun-2014 22:33 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 07-Jun-2014 22:34 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2017 10:00 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Total occupants, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 13-Feb-2021 17:33 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Phase, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2024 15:45 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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