Midair Collision of Electronic News Gathering Helicopters KTVK-TV, Eurocopter AS350B2, N613TV, and U.S. Helicopters, Inc., Euroc
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Midair Collision of Electronic News Gathering Helicopters KTVK-TV, Eurocopter AS350B2, N613TV, and U.S. Helicopters, Inc., Eurocopter AS350B2, N215TV Phoenix, Arizona July 27, 2007 Accident Report NTSB/AAR-09/02 National PB2009-910402 Transportation Safety Board this page intentionally left blank NTSB/AAR-09/02 PB2009-910402 Notation 8077 Adopted January 28, 2009 Aircraft Accident Report Midair Collision of Electronic News Gathering Helicopters KTVK-TV, Eurocopter AS350B2, N613TV, and U.S. Helicopters, Inc., Eurocopter AS350B2, N215TV Phoenix, Arizona July 27, 2007 National Transportation Safety Board 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20594 National Transportation Safety Board. 2009. Midair Collision of Electronic News Gathering Helicopters, KTVK-TV, Eurocopter AS350B2, N613TV, and U.S. Helicopters, Inc., Eurocopter AS350B2, N215TV, Phoenix, Arizona, July 27, 2007. Aircraft Accident Report NTSB/AAR-09/02. Washington, DC. Abstract: This report explains the accident involving two electronic news gathering (ENG) helicopters, N613TV and N215TV, that collided in midair while maneuvering in Phoenix, Arizona. The Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopters, from local channels 3 and 15, had been covering a police pursuit. N613TV, the channel 3 helicopter, was operated by KTVK-TV, and N215TV, the channel 15 helicopter, was operated by U.S. Helicopters, Inc., under contract to KNXV-TV. The safety issues discussed in this report focus on the limitations associated with the primary method of separation used during ENG operations; methods for improving an ENG pilot’s awareness of other helicopters operating in the same area; and the need for (1) meetings of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ENG personnel to discuss operational procedures and manage risk, (2) ENG best practices guidelines, and (3) flight recorder systems for smaller aircraft. Safety recommendations concerning these issues are addressed to the FAA. 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Aircraft Accident Report Contents Figures ........................................................................................................................................... iii Abbreviations and Acronyms ..................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... vi 1. Factual Information .................................................................................................................1 1.1 History of Flight .....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Injuries to Persons ..................................................................................................................4 1.3 Damage to Aircraft ................................................................................................................4 1.4 Other Damage ........................................................................................................................4 1.5 Personnel Information ............................................................................................................4 1.5.1 The Channel 3 Pilot ...................................................................................................4 1.5.2 The Channel 15 Pilot .................................................................................................5 1.6 Aircraft Information ...............................................................................................................6 1.7 Meteorological Information ...................................................................................................8 1.8 Aids to Navigation .................................................................................................................8 1.9 Communications ....................................................................................................................8 1.10 Airport Information ................................................................................................................9 1.10.1 Air Traffic Control ....................................................................................................9 1.10.2 Sharp Echo Letter of Agreement ...............................................................................9 1.11 Flight Recorders .....................................................................................................................9 1.12 Wreckage and Impact Information .......................................................................................10 1.13 Medical and Pathological Information .................................................................................10 1.14 Fire .......................................................................................................................................11 1.15 Survival Aspects ..................................................................................................................11 1.16 Tests and Research ...............................................................................................................11 1.16.1 Radar Data Extraction .............................................................................................11 1.16.2 Audio/Video Recorder Systems ..............................................................................12 1.17 Organizational and Management Information .....................................................................13 1.17.1 Channel 3 ................................................................................................................13 1.17.2 Channel 15 ..............................................................................................................14 1.18 Additional Information ........................................................................................................15 1.18.1 Witness Information ................................................................................................15 1.18.2 Federal Aviation Administration Guidance ............................................................15 1.18.3 Group Interview With Phoenix-Area Electronic News Gathering Pilots................16 1.18.4 Postaccident Actions ...............................................................................................17 1.18.5 Previous Electronic News Gathering Accidents .....................................................18 National Transportation Safety Board i Aircraft Accident Report 1.18.6 Aviation Safety Reporting System Reports .............................................................19 1.18.7 Use of Recorded Information ..................................................................................20 2. Analysis ...................................................................................................................................23 2.1 General .................................................................................................................................23 2.2 Accident Sequence ...............................................................................................................23 2.3 Pilot Flying and Reporting Duties .......................................................................................26 2.3.1 Pilot Workload ........................................................................................................26 2.3.2 See-and-Avoid Concept ..........................................................................................28 2.4 Methods for Improved Situational Awareness.....................................................................29 2.4.1 Visual Indications ....................................................................................................29 2.4.2 Cockpit Systems ......................................................................................................32