Preliminary Reports

The helicopter was destroyed by a post-crash fire after impacting the ground at approximately 1045 Central time following an attempted takeoff from a private field. The pilot received minor injuries and the one passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The helicopter owner had reportedly purchased the helicopter seven days prior to the accident. Additionally, the helicopter was previously owned by a flight school, and had been disassembled for shipment. The accident pilot reportedly bought the helicopter and a local mechanic reassembled it.

At 1957 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field. Visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the three passengers were not injured. According to an FAA inspector, the airplane was on final approach when the engine lost power. The pilot later characterized it as if someone had “flipped a switch.” The pilot stated that the engine did not sputter and no abnormalities were noted prior to the loss of engine power.

The airplane sustained substantial damage while landing at about 0945 Alaska time. Of the six people aboard, there were no injuries. The captain subsequently stated his approach required a correction for a right crosswind and initial touchdown on the 5000-foot long by 100-foot wide gravel runway was uneventful. He said he continued to apply a small amount of left rudder pedal input to correct for the crosswind as the nosewheel touched down. As soon as the nosewheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and went off the left side of the runway.

The pilot reported that the airplane entered the airport traffic pattern, and he performed a visual approach to Runway 35 with a 90-degree crosswind to the landing direction. He stated that he was “slow” on final and when he touched down using a soft field landing procedure, the airplane was “pushed” off the runway by a wind gust, contacted a snow bank with the left main landing gear tire, and nosed over. Both wings were substantially damaged.

Upon arrival at the destination airport, the pilot noted the windsock appeared to favor Runway 19. The pilot reported that the approach was made with the airplane configured in a slip to compensate for the crosswind. As the airplane touched down, there was a slight bounce. During the landing rollout, the airplane began to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the heading; however, the airplane continued off the runway and hit a culvert with a rock facing.

The airplane was presumed substantially damaged during a ditching in the Atlantic Ocean at 1515 Eastern time, near Key West, Fla. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After descending to traffic pattern altitude, the pilot leveled off and advanced the throttle to increase the power; however, the engine did not respond. The propeller continued to turn momentarily and then stopped completely. The pilot completed the emergency checklist but could not restart the engine. The pilot performed a forced landing to the water, opened the canopy and inflated the life raft he had in the airplane. He entered the life raft and watched the airplane float for approximately five minutes before sinking.

At about 1515 Central time the airplane was destroyed upon impact with terrain following a loss of control shortly after takeoff. The airline transport pilot, instrument-rated commercial pilot and the three passengers sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness who had served 20 years as a U.S. Air Force crew chief reported a sound resembling an “engine compressor stall.” He observed the airplane descending at a 60-to-70-degree nose-down attitude and trailing gray smoke from what appeared to be the right engine. He also observed pieces of a bird falling from the sky to the water near his location. Other witnesses reported observing smoke trail the airplane as it descended and hearing a high-pitched grinding, screech or squeal coming from the airplane.

The private pilot was asked to perform a power-off 180-degree accuracy landing as part of the practical test for a commercial pilot certification. The first attempt was terminated with a go-around. The second approach appeared normal according to the designated pilot examiner, until approximately five seconds before touchdown. At that point, the airplanes rate of descent increased to approximately 1000 fpm, airspeed slowed below 75 mph and the airplane “dropped onto the runway.” Neither the pilot nor examiner noticed any apparent damage at that time and elected to continue the flight. Upon completing the flight, the airplane was examined by maintenance for a hard landing and substantial damage was confirmed to both wings at the landing gear assembly mounts.

The CFI was demonstrating a simulated engine failure during initial takeoff climb by executing a 180-degree turn back to the airport. As the CFI was completing the maneuver, he initiated a go-around by applying full power. Subsequently the airplane stalled and impacted the runway in a left-wing-low attitude. The CFI stated he was aware of the tailwind condition he would encounter as the airplane completed the 180-degree turn and that upon exiting the airplane, he noted the wind to be considerably higher than he had expected. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wings sustained substantial damage. No anomalies were noted with the engine or flight control systems.

At approximately 1715 Central standard time, the airplane was destroyed upon colliding with terrain. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the single passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. An eyewitness saw the airplane approach from the east heading west. When the airplane was abeam a school, its engine power rapidly reduced and it was observed executing a left turn at an estimated 45-degree bank. The airplane descended as the airplane turned approximately 270 degrees and was flying north approaching the witness from the south. The airplanes wings were level as the airplane continued to descend as it approached the witness.