January 2008 Aircraft Accidents and Incidents - Part I

Hi Readers: After a 2-week hospital stay, I'm back on track.

There were 89 aircraft accidents in January 2008, of which 8 were non-U.S. There were 5 incidents of which 3 were non-U.S. A Bell 212 helicopter, non-US. accident, injuries not available was also reported. There were no reports of accidents for 1-20-08.

There were 22 fatal accidents accounting for 62 fatalities. Of the non-U.S. fatal accidents, a Beech 200 airplane crashed in Angola (13 fatal); a Cessna 210M crashed in Nambio (6 fatal); a Beech 58P crashed in Cherbourg, France (2 fatal); a Beech C90B crashed in Port Said, Egypt; a Piper PA-28 crashed in Treviso, Italy (2 fatal); and a Bell 206B helicopter crashed in Zuzenhausen, Germany (1 fatal).

There were 3 incidents during the period: One, an Air Canada Airbus 319 experienced a turbulence upset enroute from Toronto to Victoria, Canada, while climbing from FL 360 to 370. The airplane rolled uncommanded 36 degrees right, followed by a 57 degree roll to the left, then pitching nosedown. With 5 crew and 83 passengers aboard, there were 11 minor injuries. In another incident, American Air Lines FLT 1738, a B-757 on a night VFR flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Philadelphia had to declare an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit, landing at Palm Beach Intl airport. The pilot, First Officer, 3 of the Flight Attendants, and one passenger were transported to a hospital. While trying to determine the source of the smoke, the First Officer noticed that his windshield began to crack and small chards off glass began to impact him. During descent the windshield shattered, blocking outside visibility. In another incident an American Star Jet Charter B-737 experienced loss of directional control on exiting the landing runway at Lincoln, Nebraska on a day flight.

Of note, a non-U.S. British Airways accident occurred on 1-17-08 when a B-777 landed short of R/W 27L at Heathrow Intl airport. The 136 passengers deplaned by the emergency slide exits, with only 2 minor injuries. Th UK Air Accident Investigation Board is investigating. Also, of note, a Beech 200 (non-U.S.) charter flight crashed in mountainous terrain near Huambo, Angola during approach to land in IFR conditions. Thirteen fatalities were reported.

A 10-fatal mid-air collision occurred on 1-20-08 in daylight btween a Cessna 150M and a Cessna 172N, (both high-wing monoplanes) at the Corona, Ca. municipal airport (uncontrolled). The Cessna 150 was on the downwind leg for R/W25 and the Cessna 172 was entering a LH traffic pattern for R/W25. The commercial pilot and the passenger in the 172 and the two private pilots in the 150, and a person on the ground were fatally injured. There was no maneuvering prior to the collision. There is indication that the Cessna 150 was contacted from above, and that neither pilot observed the other airplane.

There were 3 helicopter accidents during the period, a Robinson R22 (1 fatal) impacted a Los Angeles freeway at night; a Robinson R44 (2 fatal) collided with the ground while maneuvering in daylight in Florida; and a non-U.S. Bell 212 helicopter crashed in a jungle area near Ketini,Peru, under unknown circumstances. Injuries to the 2-man flight crew and 7 passengers were unknown.

Of the non-fatal accidents during the period, there was a myriad of causes such as forced landing due to engine failure in flight, or on takeoff or landing, both airplanes and helicopters; numerous hard landings and groundloops, many connected with snow and ice conditions. There was one waterloop on landing, and an agriculture accident at night. A PA-28 and a Glastar airplane collided in flight and made it back to the airport. And there was one gear collapse. Of note, a B-757 and a Bombardier airplane, both being pushed back from the terminal at San Francisco, contacted each other at the tail sections. This is a new one on me.

Once again, the reported 22 fatal accidents over the Continental U.S. during the period indicate serious safety of flight problems - not limited to any particular time of flight, phase of flight, weather condition, mission, or pilot classification or proficiency issues. A fatal accident of note was a witnessed daylight breakup of a Fresno, CA.-based Beech V35B in flight over Selma, CA. at about 7,000 feet altitude.

The analysis of these fatal accidents will be covered in detail under PartII of the January 2008 accidents and incidents.

Thanks for listening. R.S.

2007 December Accidents/Incidents - Part One

Hi Readers: Here is the December 2007 accounting of Accidents/Incidents as reported by NTSB, and with some preliminary analysis. No accidents were reported for December 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30, and 31. A matter of no accidents occurring on those dates or more likely late reports. This seems to occur every month. And, generally, I would expect fewer accidents in December considering weather occurrences over the U.S. and the year-end events.
There was a total of 38 accidents and 4 Incidents (1 non-U.S.) as compared to 65 accidents (3 non-U.S.) and 2 incidents in November. There was 18 fatal accidents accounting for 37 fatalities as compared to 25 fatal (2 non-U.S.) accidents and 52 fatalities (9 non-U.S.) in November. A reduction of accidents and fatal accidents appear from November, without considering accidents that may be late in the reporting to NTSB.
There were 3 foreign accidents (accounting for 6 fatalities) as there were in November (accounting for 6 fatalities).
The Incidents: Two of the incidents involved Helicopters, a Bell 407 losing tail rotor control, and one involving a Robinson R22B on a practice hover. The remaining incident involved a PA-46 on climbout from Aspen, Colorado at 16,000 feet, when oil appeared on the windscreen from a propeller-crankshaft fracture. The pilot managed to dead-stick the airplane in to Aspen after losing the propeller.
There was a total of 6 Helicopter accidents and one Eurocopter BK 117C1 accident at Whittier, Alaska, which accounted for 4 fatalities (a lost medical response flight). One fatal Bell 206 accident at Venice, LA. involved "settleing with power" into the Gulf of Mexico ( one passenger drowned, 3 were injured). The remainder of Helicopter accidents involved matters of judgment and materiel failures.
There were 3 airline, Part 121, accidents: One a B-777-222 encountered smoke in the cabin during approach to the Chicago O'Hare airport. An immediate landing was made and the passengers were evacuated. One passenger was injured. Metallic deposits were found on one of the engine chip detectors, and oil deposits were located in the engine compressor section. Another accident involved a Bombardier CL 600-21319 at Providence, R.I. when the airplane departed the runway after a hard landing. The airplane porpoised after touchdown and veered from the runway. The left main gear collapsed and punctured the left wing. The third accident involve a Bombardier CL 600 when it struck a tug during taxi after landing.
There was a total of 5 Part 135 accidents, that of the 4-fatal Eurocopter in Whittier, Alaska; the Bell 407 at Hig Island; the 1-fatal Bell 206 helicopter at Venice, LA.; and a Bell 206 LA wire strike at Talladaga, AL.; and a Cessna 208 Caravan, 2-fatal, accident in Columbus, OH. The commercial pilot of the Caravan cargo flight may have encountered icing problems (after being de-iced) on takeoff from Columbus in IFR conditions.
There was one mid-air collision during December involving a Piper PA-30 (1 fatal) and a Cessna 152 (1 fatal) over the Everglades near Parkland, Florida. The certificated pilot in the Piper and the student pilot in the Cessna apparently did not see each other (although the Piper pilot was in communication with the Miami Approach Controller and was being given traffic advisories), both at the 2,000 ft. level.
Part II of the December 2007 Accident accounting will be forthcoming next.
Thanks for listening. R.S.