19991127033769A

(.19) 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 1405. Witnesses observed the helicopter flying from east to west, at about 150 feet AGL, 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. (-23) witness reported the aircraft was swaying back and forth when the main rotor contacted and cut off the tail section. The main rotor, transmission, tail rotor, and tail section came off in flight. The aircraft then crashed and burned approximately 300 yards from where the main rotor contacted t he tail. (.4) history of 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 top ped 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).