ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 361109
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| Date: | Saturday 30 October 1993 |
| Time: | 20:31 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R22A |
| Owner/operator: | Peregrine Helicopters, Inc. |
| Registration: | N8452Z |
| MSN: | 0375 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1983 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5174 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320-B2C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Santa Rosa, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | (KSTS) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
According to statements from the pilot, his passenger, and ground witnesses, the pilot was providing helicopter rides to fellow employees at a company halloween party. While overflying the party location, a large mylar party balloon broke free and drifted up in the path of the helicopter. The tail rotor blades struck the balloon and then separated from the helicopter. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a parking lot and touched down hard. Responding sheriff's department officers found fragments of a mylar balloon about 100 feet southeast of the helicopter.
Probable Cause: the separation of the tail rotor due to a collision with a mylar balloon and the subsequent hard landing during an autorotation. A factor in the accident was the dark night lighting conditions which limited the pilot's ability to see and avoid the balloon.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX94LA033
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Mar-2024 14:52 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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