Pilot Was Under Investigation By The FAA
The NTSB has issued its factual
report in the crash of a Robinson R22 helicopter in which the pilot
and his passenger were killed. The report indicates that the pilot
was under investigation by the FAA for providing false and
misleading information on a medical certificate.
The excerpted text of the report reads as follows:
"On October 14, 2009, approximately
0450 CDT, a Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N3234G, operated by a
non-instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted
terrain near Tahlequah, Oklahoma. A post impact fire ensued. Night
instrument meteorological conditions
prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was
being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot
and his passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed the
pilot's private residence approximately 0445 and was en route to
Tahlequah Municipal Airport (KTQH), Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
"According to family and friends, the
pilot had been up all night watching movies. The pilot intended to
fly to KTQH to meet a friend, hanger his helicopter, and go
hunting. The helicopter never arrived and the friend departed the
airport without reporting the overdue helicopter. Family members of
the passenger filed a missing persons report on the afternoon of
October 15, 2009, and the wreckage was located from the air the
morning of October 16, 2009.
"The pilot, age 26, held a private
pilot certificate with a rotorcraft helicopter rating issued on
July 31, 2009. He was issued a Third Class Airman Medical and
Student Pilot certificate on April 28, 2008. The certificate
contained no limitations. The pilot’s flight log was not
located in the wreckage and the pilot’s family was not aware
of the location of the flight log. At the time of application for
the airman medical certificate on April 28, 2008, the pilot
reported a total flight time of 21 hours. According to the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot received his private pilot
certificate on July 31, 2009. At the time of application for this
certificate, the pilot reported a total flight time of 85 hours,
all of which were logged in the Robinson R22. The application
reflected 3.5 hours of night instruction and zero hours of
instrument training.
"A review of FAA records revealed that a letter of
investigation was sent to the pilot on September 2, 2009. The
letter alleged that the pilot had provided “false or
fraudulent information” on his medical certificate
application dated April 28, 2008, and failed to report a motor
vehicle action
within 60 days as required by Federal Aviation Regulations. The
letter discussed three separate alcohol-related motor vehicle
actions that were recorded on the pilot’s driving record. The
dates of these offenses were July 14, 2003, January 26, 2004, and
March 9, 2009. According to the FAA, the pilot had not responded to
the letter or provided further evidence or a statement regarding
the letter.
"The accident helicopter, a Robinson
Helicopter R22 Beta (serial number 4114), was manufactured in 2007.
It was registered with the FAA on a standard airworthiness
certificate for normal operations. A Lycoming O-360-J2A engine,
rated at 145 horsepower, powered the helicopter. The helicopter was
registered to Trevor Noble, Terry Noble, and Robert Koudelka. The
original maintenance records were not in the wreckage. Trevor Noble
and Robert Koudelka had both been fatally injured in separate
aviation accidents on November 5, 2007, and November 2, 2008,
respectively. Terry Noble could not be located. The pilot’s
family had no knowledge as to the location of the maintenance
records. A mechanic with Sevier County hoppers came forward
and provided copies of the maintenance entries from maintenance
performed on the accident helicopter. According to these copies,
the most recent maintenance conducted on the helicopter was a
100-hour inspection, which was conducted in accordance with the
R22 maintenance manual. This 100-hour inspection was
completed on July 27, 2009, at an aircraft total time of 1,542.7
hours.
"The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed the
autopsy on October 17, 2009, as authorized by the Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner – Eastern Division, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was "internal
injuries due to blunt force trauma." During the autopsy, specimens
were collected for toxicological testing performed by the
FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma (CAMI Reference #200900245001).
"Toxicology staff at CAMI noted that
paperwork accompanying toxicology samples on the pilot indicated
the blood source to be “RT. PLEURAL SPACE.” Testing of
the blood detected 20.92 ug/ml Acetaminophen, 0.125 ug/ml
Amphetamine, 0.025 ug/ml Doxylamine, 1.338 ug/ml Methamphetamine,
2.077 ug/ml Norpropoxyphene, 0.49 ug/ml Propoxyphene,
Dextromethorphan, and Dextrorphan. Testing of the liver tissue
detected 0.281 ug/ml Amphetamine, 2.458 ug/ml Methamphetamine,
15.501 ug/ml Norpropoxyphene, 3.039 ug/ml Propoxyphene,
Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine, and Dextrorphan.
A review of the pilot's dental records
indicated that the pilot was prescribed a combination of
propoxyphene and acetaminophen for pain following a tooth
extraction and a tooth repair performed the day prior to the
accident. The pilot’s April 28, 2008, application for 3rd
Class Airman Medical and Student Pilot Certificate indicated
“No” in response to “Do You Currently Use Any
Medication” and to all items under "Medical History,"
including specifically “Substance dependence or failed a drug
test ever, or substance abuse or use of illegal substance in the
last 2 years,” “history of any conviction(s) involving
driving … while under the influence of alcohol or a drug; or
… actions involving an offense(s) which resulted in the
denial, suspension, cancellation, or revocation of driving
privileges …,” and “History of nontraffic
convictions (misdemeanors or felonies).”