ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 36052
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| Date: | Wednesday 24 March 1993 |
| Time: | 06:15 |
| Type: |  Bell 47G-2A |
| Owner/operator: | Hansen Helicopters |
| Registration: | N8493E |
| MSN: | 2715 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1961 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5861 hours |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING VO-435-A1F |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pacific Ocean -
 Pacific Ocean
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A FISH SPOTTING MISSION WITH THE SHIP'S MASTER OF MV OCEAN KIM ON BOARD. DURING CRUISE THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT A VIBRATION IN THE RUDDER PEDALS; THEN ALL YAW CONTROL WAS LOST. THE PILOT THOUGHT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A LARGE SEA BIRD AS MANY BIRDS WERE IN THE AREA. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT 60 KTS WITH THROTTLE & COLLECTIVE. HE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH THE CAPTAIN, BRIEFLY DISCUSSING THE IDEA OF THE CAPTAIN JUMPING FROM THE HELICOPTER IF IT COULD BE SLOWED AT A LOW ENOUGH ALTITUDE, BUT ONLY IF OK'D BY THE PILOT. THE SHIP LOWERED SMALL BOATS, AND MANEUVERED TO CREATE A SMOOTH WATER SURFACE WHILE THE PILOT ORBITED AND SLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO GET A FEEL FOR HOW SLOW HE COULD GO AND STILL MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 75 FT ASL AT 45 KTS WHEN THE CAPTAIN DOVE OUT HEAD FIRST. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A RUNNING LANDING ON THE WATER, AND WAS HOISTED UP ONTO THE DECK OF THE SHIP. THE CAPTAIN SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE T/R BLADES EXHIBITED IMPACT DAMAGE. CAUSE: THE PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE PILOT'S INSTRUCTIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATIONS DIFFICULTY BETWEEN THE PILOT & THE PASSENGER, AND THE BIRD STRIKE.
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001211X12016
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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