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20150116002359A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Baker Bobby J SAFARI · The Woodlands, TX · January 16, 2015

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
January 16, 2015 · 12:15 local
Place
The Woodlands, TX
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N416JB
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN15LA104
Reported as
Baker Bobby J Safari
Reported engine
Aerosport O-360
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
1
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, private pilot
N416JBRegistration cancelled Jun 8, 2018 · Baker Bobby J SAFARIS/N CH2181 · Built 2010Airframe modelBaker Bobby J SAFARIEngine modelAerosport O-360Reciprocating

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.

Around 1300 (LCL) kit built Safari helicopter N416JB impacted the ground killing the pilot aboard. The cause is still unknown. Several witness onsite say that the aircraft was spinning (loss of tail rotor effectiveness) then pitched nose up and struck the ground tail first. It appears that the main rotors were not turning when the aircraft hit the ground.

As the FAA filed it

AROUND 1300 (LCL) KIT BUILT SAFARI HELICOPTER N416JB IMPACTED THE GROUND KILLING THE PILOT ABOARD. THE CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN. SEVERAL WITNESS ONSITE SAY THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS SPINNING (LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS) THEN PITCHED NOSE UP AND STRUCK THE GROUND TAIL FIRST. IT APPEARS THAT THE MAIN ROTORS WERE NOT TURNING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND.

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 CEN15LA104Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportThe Woodlands, TXAn in-flight separation of the helicopter’s horizontal stabilizer due to undetected fatigue cracking of the stabilizer spar, which resulted in a loss of control.Jan 16, 2015 · Substantial damage