19990326002729A

(.4)The pilot lost control of the helicopter while maneuvering during an aerial photography flight. Witnesses stated that the helicopter flew from the west and then made a left turn (when viewed from below). The helicopter then started to spin 'out of control' about its vertical axis. The helicopter was described as pitching nose down and even inverted in some accounts. The witnesses stated that the main rotor blades stopped, and the helicopter 'fell out of the sky.' No pre-accident anomalies with the helicopter were noted during the wreckage examination. Toxicology tests revealed levels of 0.117 ug/ml of propoxyphene (a prescription narcotic painkiller), 0.589 ug/ml of norpropoxyphene (a metabolite of propxyphene), and 8 ug/ml of acetaminophen in the pilot's blood. The level of propoxyphene and acetaminophen suggests a normal dose within the previous 6 hours. The level of norpropoxyphene found suggests that another dose of medication may have been used within the previous 24 hours. The use of propoxyphene during flight is contraindicated due to its depressant effects on the central nervous system. (-23)numberous witnesses reported seeing the helicopter hovering at approxi mately 500 feet above the ground when it began spinning about it's vertical axis. Several witnesses said the helicotper seemed to recover from that spinning and was straight and level when it rolled or looped to an inverted position. The helicopter returned to an upright position and witnesses report that the main rotor blades were completely stopped, the blades were bent upwards and the helicopter fell straight down. On scene examination of the wreckage showed no loss of flight control continuity. Witness statements showed that the aircraft was full of fuel on departure and had flown for two hours at the time of the accident. (.19)on March 26, 1999, at 1241 CST, a Robinson R22BETA helicopter, N2323V, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering near Houston, Texas. The commercial rated pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to a private individual and operated by helicopter services, inc., on spring, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was filed for the local photo flight operated under 14 CFR part 91. The flight origi nated from the David Wayne Hooks airport at 1104. The operator reported that a photo flight was planned to loop the city of Houston in a clockwise direction, originating from David Wayne Hooks airport. Numberous witnesses in the area observed the helicopter hovering at approximately 500 feet above the ground when the "main rotors stopped rotating and the fuselage started to rotate about its vertical axis." The main rotors then "coned upward and the helicopter dropped out of the sky." The helicopter came to rest in the middle of a city street on a resting heading on 154 degrees. According to the 1253 weather report from the nearby Houston hobbt airport, the winds were reported from 100 degrees at 10 knots, the visibility was reported as 10 miles, with few clouds at 4,500 feet above the ground. The temperature was reported as 68 degrees fahrenheit, with a dew point of 50 degrees. The altimeter setting was reported as 30.16 inches hg.