20120930025869A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Agusta A109E · Eastland, TX · September 30, 2012

Date: September 30, 2012 · 09:36 local
Place: Eastland, TX
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: NXTA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N144CF
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN12FA670
Reported as: Agusta A109E
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor

N144CFRegistration cancelled Jul 22, 2014 · Agusta A109ES/N 11144 · Built 2002 Airframe modelAgusta A109E Engine modelPratt & Whitney Canada PW206CTurbo-shaft

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.

On September 30, 2012, at approximately 09:36 CDT, N144CF an augusta A109E helicopter, operated by careflite was destroyed when it impacted terrain approximately six miles south east of Eastland airport (etn) located in Eastland, Texas. The helicopter was enroute performing air medical positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91, from granbury regional airport (gdj). The flight was intended to transport a patient from his residence in Eastland, Texas. N114CF impacted the ground approximately quarter of a mile east at the intersection of Texas state highway 6 and county road 309. The aircraft flight path indicated a heading of 145 degrees. The helicopter tail assembly impacted the ground and then slid approximately 450 feet. When abruptly turned 68 degrees and flip on the right side and came to rest 45 feet at a heading of 77 degrees. All three careflite personnel suffered minor to serious injuries.

As the FAA filed it

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 09:36 CDT, N144CF AN AUGUSTA A109E HELICOPTER, OPERATED BY CAREFLITE WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES SOUTH EAST OF EASTLAND AIRPORT (ETN) LOCATED IN EASTLAND, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS ENROUTE PERFORMING AIR MEDICAL POSITIONING FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, FROM GRANBURY REGIONAL AIRPORT (GDJ). THE FLIGHT WAS INTENDED TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT FROM HIS RESIDENCE IN EASTLAND, TEXAS. N114CF IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY QUARTER OF A MILE EAST AT THE INTERSECTION OF TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY 6 AND COUNTY ROAD 309. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT PATH INDICATED A HEADING OF 145 DEGREES. THE HELICOPTER TAIL ASSEMBLY IMPACTED THE GROUND AND THEN SLID APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET. WHEN ABRUPTLY TURNED 68 DEGREES AND FLIP ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST 45 FEET AT A HEADING OF 77 DEGREES. ALL THREE CAREFLITE PERSONNEL SUFFERED MINOR TO SERIOUS INJURIES.

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 CEN12FA670Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportEastland, TXThe loss of helicopter control after an in-flight upset, which occurred when the pilot selected the autopilot’s altitude hold mode; the reason for the reported in-flight control anomaly could not be determined during postaccident helicopter examinations.…Sep 30, 2012 · Substantial damage