NTSB Factual Report

History of the Flight

On November 27, 1999, about 1445 central standard time, a Bell 212, N8144M, registered to Houston Helicopters, Inc., crashed near Philadelphia, Mississippi, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed and the airline transport-rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight last departed Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the same day, about 1408.

The helicopter was being positioned from Virginia, to Pearland, Texas, the home base for the helicopter operator. Transcript of communications from the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, show the flight arrived at Tuscaloosa at 1329. The lineman at Dixie Air, Inc., Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who fueled the helicopter, stated he talked with the pilot and passenger when they arrived. They stated they were flying to Texas, and had been flying since early that morning. They stated that sometime that morning, the greenhouse window above the pilot had broken. They then requested that the fuel tanks be completely topped off with Jet-A fuel. The lineman stated that when he went to the helicopter to fuel it, he observed that the greenhouse window was cracked lengthwise. Transcripts show that at 1408, the pilot requested and was given a west departure from Tuscaloosa. No further contact with air traffic control facilities were made after this. (See transcript of communications and witness statement).

The transcript of communications recorded on the cockpit voice recorder showed that about 29 minutes before the accident, the passenger stated to the pilot "I think if I hadn't-a broke that off we wouldn't had any greenhouse by the time we got home". About 18 minutes before the accident, the passenger stated to the pilot "boy those catfish are going crazy down there aren't they". The pilot respond "yep", "must have been the vibrations from the helicopter". About 2 minutes later the passenger and pilot discuss sighting deer in a field. About 1 minute 30 seconds before the accident, the pilot asked the passenger "has this vertical just gotten in here or has it been here for a while?" The passenger replied "we haven't had any verticals at all." The pilot replied, "we do now." The passenger replied, "yeah well it started right after we left back there. I think it maybe ah that's why I was thinking it was the air." About 20 seconds later, the passenger stated that another person had tracked the helicopter's blades before they left and that he was commenting on how smooth it was. About 40 seconds later the pilot stated "this stuff is getting worse." The recording then ended. (See NTSB Cockpit Voice Recorder Factual Report of Group Chairman).

Witnesses in the area of the accident site stated that they observed the helicopter flying from east to west, just above the treetops. The helicopter began rolling back and forth. They then observed the main rotor blades contact the tail area, and the aft tail boom and tail rotor separate. Shortly after this, the main rotor separated and the helicopter descended and crashed to the ground. A fire erupted during ground impact. Witnesses did not observe any smoke come from the helicopter prior to the accident. (See Witness Group Chairman Factual Report).

Personnel Information

The pilot held a FAA airline transport pilot certificate with a helicopter rotorcraft rating, last issued on March 5, 1984. The pilot held a FAA second-class medical certificate, issued on December 1, 1998, with the limitation that holder shall wear lenses to correct for distant vision and possess glasses that correct for near vision. The pilot was hired by Houston Helicopters, Inc., in March 1999, and after attending ground training, received flight checks to act as pilot in command in the Bell 212, Bell 206, and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters. The Bell 212 flight check was conducted on March 27, 1999. At the time the pilot was hired, he reported he had accumulated 11,019 total flight hours, all in helicopters. He reported he had 2,356 total flight hours in the Bell 212. (See pilot records).

The passenger was employed by the helicopter operator as a mechanic. He held a FAA airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate, last issued on February 26, 1980. The passenger also held a FAA private pilot certificate with a airplane single engine land rating, issued on May 5, 1978.

Aircraft Information

The accident helicopter was a Bell Helicopter Textron Model 212, serial no. 30706, which was manufactured in May 1975. The helicopter was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6-3 engine, rated at 1,800 shaft horsepower, consisting of two 900 shaft horsepower power sections and a reduction gear box.

The helicopter received a 100-hour and annual inspection on April 12, 1999, at aircraft total time 11,243.7. The helicopter received a 25 hour and 50 hour inspection on September 23, 1999, at aircraft total time 11,288.7. On November 5, 1999, the helicopter received a daily and preflight inspection, at aircraft total time 11,302.2. The following discrepancies and corrective actions were noted in the records for the daily and preflight inspection:

"Check M/R servo alignment" [action] "Realigned lateral servos"

"Track and Balance M/R [action] "Performed track & Bal. Check & adjust"

"adjust autorotation RPM" [action] "adjusted auto RPM per M&M"

The "Next Inspection Due, 100 Hr. A B [was entered as] 11,343.7" hours.

The helicopter operator stated that the records for the helicopter were retained on the helicopter after this inspection and were destroyed in the accident. They stated the helicopter would have received a daily inspection by a mechanic each morning. They estimated the helicopter flew about 19 flight hours from the time of this daily and preflight inspection on November 5, 1999, until the time of the accident.

Aircraft records show the "red" main rotor blade grip, part number 204-011-121-9, serial number GD-9312-6, was removed from main rotor hub serial number ADA-08684, in July 1985, after accumulating 4,334.1 total flight hours. The grip was sent to Bell Helicopter Textron by Houston Helicopters, Inc., at this time for overhaul. The grip was then placed in storage and was returned to Bell Helicopter Textron in April 1992 for installation of Rosan fittings in the pitch change horn mounting holes. The Rosan fittings had been left out during the 1985 overhaul at Bell Helicopter Textron. The "red" blade grip was installed on main rotor hub serial number FB-71829 in January 1993, at hub total time 2,500.0 hours and grip total time 4334.1. The hub assembly, including the "red" grip was installed on another helicopter. In February 1994, after 17.5 hours of operation, the hub was removed due to an overspeed occurrence and again overhauled. The "red" grip was inspected for overspeed at this time. In June 1995, the hub was removed for compliance with a service bulletin. On March 25, 1996, the main rotor hub and "red" blade grip was installed on the accident helicopter, N8144M, at helicopter total time 11,050.2. On March 25, 1998, the hub was removed for blade retention strap replacement and then reinstalled on N8144M, on April 3, 1998. At the time of the accident, the "red" grip had accumulated 162.2 flight hours since the March 1998 removal and reinstallation of the main rotor hub, 556.5 flight hours since overhaul in 1985, and 4,890.6 total flight hours since new.

The "red" main rotor blade pitch change horn, part number 204-011-120-005, serial number HT-834, was removed from service in 1985, after accumulating 1,634.9 total flight hours. On January 12, 1993, the horn was installed on main rotor hub serial number FB-71829. At the time of the accident the "red" pitch change horn had accumulated 2,191.4 total flight hours. The horn has a life limit of 3,000 total flight hours.

Meteorological Information

The Key Field Airport, Meridian, Mississippi, 1453 surface weather observation was, sky clear, visibility 10 miles, temperature 19 degrees centigrade, dew point temperature minus 1 degree centigrade, wind from 240 degrees at 3 knots, altimeter 30.16 inches hg. Key Field is located 30 nm southeast of the accident site.

A review of the weather in the area of the accident was performed by the NTSB, Operational Factors Division, Washington, D.C. The review showed that the winds in the area of the accident were light and variable and that the accident helicopter did not encounter any turbulence. (See NTSB, Operation Factors Division Report).

Communications

The pilot was not in radio contact with any FAA Air Traffic Control facility at the time of the accident. The transcript of communications recorded on the cockpit voice recorder showed that the pilot had the radio frequency for the FAA Jackson Approach Control, Jackson, Mississippi, set in the radio. Transmissions from flights approaching Jackson were recorded. One of these flights was Delta Airlines flight 1411. The last transmission recorded from Delta 1411 was about 11 minutes before the accident, when the pilot responded to his clearance to land on runway 6 left at Jackson International Airport.

The NTSB requested from the FAA Jackson Approach Control, a transcript of communications for the approach frequency around the time of the accident. When the transcript was received, it was determined the wrong time frame had been transcribed. When the approach control personnel went back to transcribe the correct time frame, they learned the recording tape had been reused and the recording was no longer available. Delta Airlines reported to the NTSB that flight 1411 arrived at the gate at Jackson International Airport about 1440.

Flight Recorders

The helicopter was equipped with a Universal Avionics CVR30 solid-state cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The CVR was recovered from the accident scene and taken to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, D.C. The circuit board containing the memory devices in the CVR was damaged. NTSB laboratory personnel took the circuit board to the CVR manufacturers facilities. The memory devices were removed from the damaged circuit board and installed on a new board. The recorded audio data from the accident helicopter was then recovered and transcribed. (See NTSB Cockpit Voice Recorder Factual Report).

The NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory also performed a sound spectrum study on the recorded audio data from the CVR. The study attempted to identify any sounds on the recording associated with the helicopters systems and engines. Signals that could be associated with the upper hydraulic pump, lower planetary gear, and the oil cooler fan were identified. The signals equated to each of these components operating at about 98 percent of maximum speed. (See NTSB Sound Spectrum Study).

Wreckage and Impact Information

The helicopter crashed in a field located north of Highway 16 and east of Highway 491, near Philadelphia, Mississippi. The helicopter's main wreckage was located at coordinates 32 degrees 47.06 minutes north latitude and 88 degrees 55.57 minutes west latitude. The crash site elevation was about 500 feet msl.

Wreckage of the helicopter was found along a 1400-foot debris path that was oriented along a course to the southwest, about 233 degrees magnetic. The accident site was nearly level and contained numerous small-diameter pine trees. A post-crash fire consumed a substantial portion of the forward fuselage as well as forward portion of the tail boom.

Beginning the wreckage examination at the front of the helicopter, the forward fuselage, including pilot compartment, was substantially consumed by fire. The pilot seats were burned-away, except for the seat frames. The main cabin was also consumed by fire. An assembly comprising the engines, engine mounts, and attached portion of airframe was found resting on its right side; it sustained substantial fire damage. The forward section of tail boom was extensively damaged by fire, including the tail boom-to-main fuselage attach points, back through the tail boom structure to a point aft of the synchronized elevator. The aft portion of the tail boom was separated from the forward section by means of a diagonal fracture that evidenced a main rotor blade strike.

The main transmission, main rotor blades, aft portion of the tail boom, tail rotor gearbox, tail rotor blades, and portions of the windshield evidenced separation from the helicopter in flight, and were distributed along a debris path extending back on the route of flight to the northeast of the main wreckage. These components did not exhibit any fire damage, and showed no evidence of sooting, heat discoloration, or staining. The main transmission was integral up to and including the main rotor mast. The main rotor was separated from the mast. The mast exhibited an oval fracture face and evidenced main rotor head to mast impact prior to separation. The main transmission was located about 300 feet northeast of the main wreckage; the aft portion of the tail boom was found about 450 feet east-northeast of the main wreckage; and the main rotor head and attached main rotor blades were found about 1,200 feet east-northeast of the main wreckage. Fragments from the upper windshield or "greenhouse" were found in a wide area that began about 1,400 feet northeast of the main wreckage.

The entire main rotor system was accounted for in the wreckage, except for the pitch change horn for the "red" main rotor blade and the majority of the pitch change link that attaches to the "red" pitch change horn at the pitch change links lower rod end. The "red" pitch change links upper rod end was found in the wreckage, still attached to the mixing lever within the stabilizer bar assembly. It exhibited a fracture surface.

The "red" grip remained in place in the main rotor system. The surface of the "red" grip exhibited two boreholes that mated with two bushing that were part of the departed and missing "red" pitch change horn. The mating grip surface exhibited a blackish residue near the pitch change horn boreholes, and the blackish area extended beyond the boreholes.

The crashsite and an extended area back-up the wreckage path were searched extensively, including by Boy Scout parties; the "red" pitch change horn and most of the "red" pitch change link were not found.

Preimpact continuity of the flight control system was not established. There were separations in the system and post-crash fire consumed the majority of flight controls in the cockpit area. Flight control continuity was established beginning at the diagonal fracture separating the aft tail boom, back through the tail rotor gearbox bellcrank, immediately prior to the separated tail rotor gearbox. The tail rotor gearbox output shaft was recovered and found fractured on both ends.

The main rotor control system was examined from the transmission mounts up through the main rotor blades. The system was impact-damaged and fractured in several locations. The controls could not be manipulated because of numerous separations. As noted above, the grip for the color-coded red main rotor blade was recovered in the wreckage, but the mating "red" pitch change horn and most of the attached "red" pitch change link were not found. The face of the "red" grip (where it had been joined with and pressed against the mating surface of the "red" pitch change horn, by means of two steel bushings that were part of the pitch change horn assembly) was found unevenly discolored and the paint/primer on the face of the "red" grip were blackened. The "white" pitch change horn was found separated from the "white" grip and the "white" pitch change horn and main rotor grip were both recovered in the wreckage. The grip to pitch change horn mating surface on the "white" grip did not have the black-in-color residue that was found on the "red" grip.

The aft portion of the tail boom was examined for failures and malfunctions. The aft portion was fractured diagonally from left to right, separating the tail rotor drive shaft. The vertical stabilizer was integral to the aft portion of the tail boom. The 42-degree and 90-degree gearboxes were in

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot and company maintenance personnel during preflight and periodic inspections to identify the signs of fretting and looseness in the "red" main rotor blade pitch change horn to main rotor blade grip attachment, resulting in the helicopter continuing in service with a loose pitch change horn, separation of the pitch change horn from the blade grip, and inflight breakup of the helicopter due to the main rotor striking the tailboom. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to respond to increased vibration in the main rotor system and land immediately.