Beechcraft H50 N171S
14 July 1991 · Hartwood, Virginia, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 14 July 1991 at about 16:15 local time, a Beechcraft H50 registered N171S, operated by Hartwood Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Hartwood, Virginia, United States. 7 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hartwood, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Somerville (8W8)
- Coordinates
- 38.4002, -77.5392
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft H50
- Registration
- N171S
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Hartwood Aviation Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO91LA073
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Probable cause
THE PARACHUTIST FAILURE TO PROPERLY MONITOR AND SECURE HIS RELEASE HANDLE TO PROTECT AGAINST ACCIDENTAL PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AS THE FIRST PARACHUTIST WAS PREPARING TO JUMP FROM THE WING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 12,000 FEET, HIS RESERVE PARACHUTE RELEASE HANDLE BECAME ATTACHED TO SOME PART OF THE AIRPLANE. BEFORE HE COULD REACT, THE PARACHUTE OPENED AND PULLED HIM FROM THE WING. THE PARTIALLY DEPLOYED CHUTE WRAPPED AROUND THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, SLAMMING HIM AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT STABILIZER BROKE AWAY AND THE JUMPER DESCENDED TO A SAFE LANDING UNDER THE DEPLOYED CANOPY. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft H50 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan 1978 | Beechcraft H50 | Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Oct 2004 | Beechcraft H50 | Hartwood, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 May 1968 | Beechcraft H50 | Scott City, Missouri, United States | Cape Construct | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jul 1966 | Beechcraft H50 | Munster Ind, Indiana, United States | Mainline Aviat | Fatal | 4 |
| 28 Aug 1964 | Beechcraft H50 | Mobile Ala, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1991 | Cessna 310D | Christiansburg, Virginia, United States | U.s. Air Salvage | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Danville, Virginia, United States | Eoanna K. Casey | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1991 | Smith Ted Aerostar STP1 | Quinton, Virginia, United States | Walter K. Crawford, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Grumman AA-1C | Union Hall, Virginia, United States | Christopher P. Nelson | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1991 | Cessna 150G | Stuart, Virginia, United States | C-150 Group Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | South Boston, Virginia, United States | Wings & Props Flying Club | Minor injuries | - |