Aerospatiale AS-350B N26TM

Summary

On 20 January 1988 at about 23:10 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350B registered N26TM, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Omaha, Nebraska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

20 January 1988 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

41.2404, -95.9597

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS-350B

Registration

N26TM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

MKC88FA043

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HOVER AND MADE A HOVERING TURN IN PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO RISE. THE PILOT STATED LATER THAT HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A SECURITY FENCE AROUND THE HELIPORT. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN STRUCK A WIND SOCK POLE, A TREE, LIGHT POLE, AND CONCRETE BENCH DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) #67-05 HAD BEEN PARTIALLY COMPLETED. THE SB PROVIDED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ICE IN THE HYDRAULIC SERVO BY INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE COVERS. THE PROTECTIVE COVERS HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE OTHER TWO MAIN ROTOR SERVOS BUT NOT THE SERVO WHICH CONTROLLED FORE AND AFT CYCLIC CONTROL. THE OMAHA AREA EXPERIENCED FREEZING PRECIPITATION THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,THE TEMPERATURE HAD NOT RISEN ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE DAY, AND FREEZING PRECIP WAS FORECAST.THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR THIS ACFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.