20040522008399A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Amblp A150 · Las Vegas, NV · May 22, 2004

Date: May 22, 2004 · 10:30 local
Place: Las Vegas, NV
Airport: North Las Vegas Air Terminal
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N154ZP
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04CA221
Reported as: Amblp A150
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,149 total100 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

N154ZPRegistered now · American Blimp A-1-70S/N 104 · Built 1999 Airframe modelAmerican Blimp A-1-70 Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The aircraft came off mast for take off, about the same time a strong gust of wind or dust devil hit the right side of the aircraft causing it to hit the airport fence. The envelope then settled on top of a building letting the starboard engine propeller hit the building splintering causing damage to the gondola and fuel tank. The nose gear was also broken off at the strut housing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT CAME OFF MAST FOR TAKE OFF, ABOUT THE SAME TIME A STRONG GUST OF WIND OR DUST DEVIL HIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING IT TO HIT THE AIRPORT FENCE. THE ENVELOPE THEN SETTLED ON TOP OF A BUILDING LETTING THE STARBOARD ENGINE PROPELLER HIT THE BUILDING SPLINTERING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE GONDOLA AND FUEL TANK. THE NOSE GEAR WAS ALSO BROKEN OFF AT THE STRUT HOUSING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04CA221Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportNorth Las Vegas, NVthe ground crew's inability to maintain control of the airship and the pilot's inability to obtain a sufficient rate of climb. Contributing to the accident was unfavorable winds.May 22, 2004 · Substantial damage