# Accident 20020409009159A: Aerosp SA319B, Altoona, FL, April 9, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 9, 2002, 11:23 local time
- Place: Altoona, FL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: E7LL
- Location: 29.1008° N, 81.6189° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1008&lon=-81.6189&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2UH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2UH-2015-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale SA319B ALOUETTE III (registry code 8680607, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa319b-alouette-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU series (registry code 60020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSP SA319B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02TA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02TA082) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020409009159A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) MR. THOMAS L. SHIRKEY, PIC, WAS LANDING N2UH, A SA-319-B HELICOPTER, ON THE LANDING PAD LOCATED AT OCALA FIRE CONTROL CENTER, OCALA NATIONAL FOREST, FLORIDA. THE HELICOPTER BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND THE CHIEF PILOT, MR. ROB FULTON, WAS STANDING BY WITH CHOCKS TO SECURE THE WHEELS UPON LANDING. AS THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE MAINTENANCE HANGER. MR. FULTON WAS UNABLE TO SECURE THE HELICOPTER AND MR. SHIRKEY HAD NO WAY TO STOP THE FORWARD MOTION EXCEPT TO BRING THE HELICOPTER BACK UP TO A HOVER AND ATTEMPT ANOTHER LANDING. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A HOVER AND STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED "GROUND RESONANCE" WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY, AND MR. SHIRKEY LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AT THIS POINT. THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT TAIL BOOM CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL SECTION TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE TRANSMISSION AND MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM ALSO SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AT THIS TIME. THE MAIN SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT AND THE PILOT WAS UNHARMED WHILE THE PASSENGER RECEIVED A BROKEN LEFT FOREARM AND SEVERE BRUISES TO HIS LEFT UPPER LEG.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA02TA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02TA082), Apr 9, 2002: Aerospatiale SA319B Alouette III (N2UH), Altoona, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The intentional operation of the helicopter with known deficiencies in equipment (inoperative normal brakes), and the pilot's improper use of the cyclic flight controls after the helicopter started…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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