FTW96FA060

The helicopter was hovering at 55 feet agl, parallel to a power line cable, facing east-southeast. The wind was from 200 to 210 degees at 5 to 10 knots. The rotation plane of the tail rotor blades was about 38 inches from the nearest wire. A crew member, held by a safety harness, was working from the left side of the helicopter intalling an overhead ground wire in roller blocks. The crew member's work platform was about 4 inches from the overhead ground wire when, as the pilot described, 'the cyclic suddenly moved to the left and maybe slightly forward. (The helicoper) immediately started moving to the left and into the pole and line.' The pilot further stated that he was 'trying to stop the cyclic' and move it to the right; however, 'cyclic movement to the right had a restriction,' and the 'helicopter struck the pole and/or the shield wire, pivoted to the left and up, over the shield wire,' and 'began to spin.' It impacted the ground, fire erupted, and the helicopter came to rest inverted. The pilot escaped the fire, but the crew member sustained fatal injuries. Investigation revealed the helicopter's center-of-gravity was left-lateral (-2.67 inches), the limit was -3.00 inches, and about 25% of right cyclic travel was available to the pilot. A gouge mark was found on the side of the power pole matching the helicopters work flatform. No preexisting cracks or discontinuities were found in unburned flight controls, although most of the controls were consumed by fire.

History of flight:

On December 5, 1995, at 1201 central standard time, a McDonnell Douglas 369E, N16089, collided with power lines and a pole while hovering out of ground (OGE) effect near Thibodaux, Louisiana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the other crewmember (airborne workman) sustained fatal injuries. Haverfield Corporation of Miami, Florida, was operating the helicopter under a Title 14 CFR Part 133 Operating Certificate at the time of the accident. The flight had been working on the area power line since about 0730. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and a company (VFR) flight plan was filed.

During a personal interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that the helicopter staging area was located about one mile from the power line and, after refueling, the flight had been airborne about 45 minutes before the accident. The helicopter was hovering stationary and parallel to the power lines, about 55 feet AGL, in an east southeasterly direction with winds from the southwest (200 to 210 degrees) at 5 knots or higher (10 knots). The crew member, held by a safety harness, was working from the left side of the platform and was installing a shield wire (overhead ground wire) in roller blocks. While hovering the helicopter with the left side of the work platform about 4 inches from the shield wire, the "cyclic suddenly moved to the left and maybe slightly forward." The aircraft "immediately started moving to the left into the pole and line." The pilot stated that he was "trying to stop the cyclic" and move it to the right; however, "cyclic movement to the right had a restriction" and the "helicopter struck the pole and/or the shield wire, pivoted to the left and up, over the shield wire." The helicopter "began to spin," then impacted the ground on the north side of the lines, and came to rest inverted. A post impact fire erupted. The pilot, who was wearing a nomex flight suit and a helmet, escaped the fire. The pilot and witnesses attempted to remove the crewmember trapped under the platform; however, the heat from the spilled fuel fire prevented the recovery.

The pilot further stated that he had flown this aircraft for several months and had "never had a problem with the cyclic trim or flight controls." He had been working throughout the morning "without a problem" and did not recall any "unusual vibration, feedback, or aircraft noise prior to the cyclic movement." He was aware of the control input during a non commanded trim and stated that the cyclic movement during the impact sequence was "not the trim."

Witnesses and a local firefighter reported observing the helicopter hovering stationary and parallel to the power lines with the helicopter facing to the east. They reported the winds were from the south southwest at 15 knots with "occasional gust." One witness who observed the helicopter hovering near the electrical post, reported that "the helicopter sound changed and I saw the helicopter's tail rise, [and] the nose roll to the left."

Personnel information:

Company personnel reported that the pilot had worked at the Thibodaux site since September 1995. Haverfield Corporation contracted to Entergy Services, Inc., of New Orleans, Louisiana, for the helicopter crew to assist a ground contractor in replacing existing Copperweld shield wire with Alumoweld. The work involved placing the old shield wires in rollers, repairing any broken strands, and covering existing splices on the wire to facilitate pulling in the new wire. Once the new wire was in place the helicopter crew would attach the new wire to the poles and remove the rollers.

Company records for the pilot indicated 3,912 military flight hours and a subsequent issuance of the FAA commercial pilot certificate with helicopter and instrument ratings. The pilot was issued a certificate of competency on January 3, 1995, by Haverfield Corporation for Class A (work platform and airborne workman), B, and C, external load operations. Company daily operation forms from November 22, 1995, through December 5, 1995, indicated a pilot duty day of 10 to 11.5 hours (6 to 9 hours flight time). On December 5, 1995, the pilot had accrued a duty time of 5 hours and 30 minutes prior to the accident.

Aircraft information:

The helicopter was maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's continuous inspection program. All maintenance records since the last "C" phase check (July 12, 1995). There were no open discrepancies found in the maintenance records. On December 1, 1990, the cyclic control tube was installed. The cyclic trim switch (due to sticking) had been replaced on November 16, 1995. Company personnel reported that the helicopter was within the weight and balance limits (copy enclosed).

Federal Aviation Regulations Title 14 CFR Part 27.143 (copy enclosed) states the helicopter controllability and maneuverability certification requirements. FAR 27.143 (c) states that "a wind velocity of not less than 17 knots must be established in which the rotorcraft can be operated without loss of control on or near the ground."

A review of FAA and company records (enclosed) revealed that Haverfield Corporation and the helicopter were approved for external load operations in class A, B, and C load combinations. During this flight the helicopter operated under Class A rotorcraft-load combinations using the skid-mounted cargo rack and work platform (STC Approved) including the airborne workman.

Wreckage and impact information:

Site terrain was a harvested sugarcane field and the helicopter came to rest on a measured magnetic heading of 105 degrees approximately 54 feet from the power line poles. Cabin and cockpit areas were destroyed by the fire; however, there was no evidence of an inflight fire. The horizontal stabilizer, gear box, and a portion of the tailboom came to rest at the base of the poles. Main rotor blades, except the blue blade, remained with the main wreckage. See the enclosed diagram for additional details.

Examination of the power line pole indicated a gouge in the pole. Red paint transfer and scrapes were found on the ground wires. Striations in width to the approximate diameter of the power line cables were found within the leading edge crushed areas of the tail rotor blades and along the vertical stabilizer.

The pitch change control rods and mixer links were attached at the swashplate. Main rotor blade pitch change links were bent or separated. Flight control continuity was confirmed at the swashplate assembly and the tailrotor gearbox. All parts of the main rotor blades were found and the main rotor (blue blade) was detached at the hub strap assembly.

The located portions of the tailrotor driveshaft indicated torsional overload. The tailboom portions exhibited downward bending.

The main rotor (blue blade) lead lag straps, remains (not destroyed by fire) of the longitudinal/lateral trim motor system, and the control rod ends (found among the fire debris) were forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory. On December 12, 1995, the FAA inspector removed the cyclic and collective control rod ends and the swashplate assembly (including the uniball). These components were forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory.

An engine teardown was completed on December 7, 1995, at Houma, Louisiana, with NTSB oversight. The examination disclosed "rotational damage to the engine shafting" and "aluminum deposits on the turbine vanes" indicated that the "the engine was turning when it hit the ground."

There were no discrepancies found that would indicate that the "engine was not capable of producing power up to the time of impact."

Medical and pathological information:

Toxicology for the pilot was positive for 3.800 (ug/ml) acetaminophen detected in the blood. The pilot reported that at 1045 he "took 2 I