ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 42594
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| Date: | Wednesday 17 September 1997 |
| Time: | 09:45 LT |
| Type: |  Bell OH-58A Kiowa |
| Owner/operator: | Tarrant County Sheriff's Dept. |
| Registration: | N149SD |
| MSN: | 70-15149 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1970 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3698 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison T63-A720 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Newark, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Fort Worth, TX (FTW |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter collided with the ground after it descended from level flight in a right rotating turn. According to witnesses, the helicopter landed and tookoff after a few minutes on the ground. The helicopter circled the airport and was headed upwind about 500 feet above the ground when it pitched up, 'hovered for an instant' and descended to the ground. Examination of the helicopter did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction. The filament of the low rotor rpm warning light bulb was stretched, which was indicative that it was on at the time of impact. Acoustic analysis of a video tape recording of the accident revealed the rotor rpm during the descent was 80 percent (normal operating range 90-107 percent). According to the helicopter manufacturer, under the given conditions, at a gross weight of 3,250 pounds, and a height of 500 feet, a hover out of ground effect can be accomplished. The estimated gross weight of the helicopter was 2,750 pounds.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm which resulted in a loss of aircraft control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW97GA350
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 08-Apr-2024 12:47 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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