Astoria Regional Airport: Astoria, Oregon
Astoria Regional Airport Today:
Location: Astoria is located 3 miles south west of Astoria.
History:
Find Astoria Airport Services and Amenities:
Restaurant on the field; Runway Cafe; Fuel available; Car rentals available.
Special Events &
Attractions: Maritime Museum; Beach; Fort Clatsop
and Fort Stevens historical sites; helicopter and
military operations.
Airport
Area Accident History:
During a climb to en route cruise, the
airplane's engine lost almost all power, and the pilot had to ditch in a
river because he was unable to glide back to the departure airport. The
power loss was due to a minimum fuel flow command from the fuel control unit
as a result of the seizure of the fuel control flyweights. The seizure of
the flyweights was due to their contamination with residue from a failed
fuel control tachometer drive bearing. The bearing failed due to its preload
spacer being machined incorrectly, and due to the failure of the assembling
technician to detect the anomaly at the time the fuel control was assembled.
Updated at Nov 21 2009 2:10PM
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According to the pilot, he completed a VOR approach to the airport and then
entered the traffic pattern for runway 26. On final approach, he increased
the flap setting to 30 degrees and performed a "side slip for cross wind."
Upon touchdown, the airplane's nose turned to the right, and he attempted to
go around. The airplane continued to turn to the right and exited the
runway. The left main and nose landing gears collapsed. The weather
observation at the airport recorded about 5 minutes before the accident
indicated the wind was from 230 degrees at 6 knots.
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During the takeoff roll in a 30 degree crosswind of about 12 knots, the
aircraft passed on the leeward side of a number of hangars of varying size.
As the aircraft passed through the area where the wind was blocked by the
individual hangars into areas where the wind was not blocked, the student
pilot failed to adequately compensate for the resultant change in wind
velocity and direction. As the student pilot continued the takeoff, the
aircraft departed the side of the runway, impacted a taxiway exit sign, and
entered into an area of wet, soft ground. The student pilot then pulled the
power to idle and applied "full brakes." The nose gear then dug into the
terrain and ultimately collapsed. There were no anomalies found in the
rudder or nose wheel steering systems.
The helicopter descended into the
ocean after encountering instrument meteorological conditions. The accident
helicopter was one in a flight of two helicopters on a cross-country
positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the
departure airport; however, the flight crews encountered low ceilings at the
destination airport and elected to continue the flight to the west, over
water, in an effort to find a break in the overcast. A passenger in the
number 2 helicopter (non-accident helicopter) reported the pilots of both
helicopters were in continuous contact with one another during the flight
and that as the weather conditions deteriorated, the pilot of the number 2
helicopter stated "I'm going to go through it" followed by "stay right
behind me." The pilot in the accident helicopter agreed. The witness
reported that when the number 2 helicopter entered the fog, the accident
helicopter was "behind and above us." The witness stated the
pilot in the accident helicopter radioed the pilot of the number 2
helicopter asking, "How fast are you descending?" The pilot stated "very
slow." The witness reported that approximately 30 seconds later; the pilot
of the number 2 helicopter stated, "Go back up... it's too low. It's much
lower than we thought. Go back up right now." Radio contact with the
accident helicopter was lost. Approximately 15 minutes later, two orange
life vests and miscellaneous wreckage debris were found floating in the
water approximately 1 mile offshore. The hourly METAR observation at the
destination airport included, a visibility of 5 statute miles in mist, and
overcast clouds at 400 feet. Search and rescue personnel reported the
weather in the area of the accident was, visibility 1 mile; overcast ceiling
at 100 feet and winds from the northwest at 10 knots. (Warrenton)
Astoria
Airport Approach/Landing Video:
