Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Woodruff, Utah 84086
Monday, January 4, 1999 16:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the helicopter was being maneuvered at low altitude, the pilot heard a series of compressor stalls, accompanied by a rapid decay of rotor rpm. The helicopter struck the ground, spun around and rolled over on its right side. The engine was functionally tested and was 20 horsepower below overhaul specifications. The compressor stalled repeatedly. Compressor disassembly disclosed case liner erosion, most noticeably at the 5th and 6th stages, and the rotating labyrinth seal was missing. After replacing the seal and installing a slave compressor module, the engine tested normal.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power due to erosion in the compressor assembly module. Factors were a missing rotating labyrinth seal, the installation of which had not been performed by unknown maintenance personnel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/4/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WOODRUFF
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84086
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1556 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 145
Weather Observation Facility ID EVW
Elevation of weather observation facility 7153
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6345
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 56
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 4 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1710
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5013P
NTSB Number DEN99TA031
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hughes
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 610984D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 16 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 6484
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAWKINS & POWERS AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 391
Aircraft Owner City GREYBULL
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82426
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code BZBA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? Yes
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EVW
Departure City EVANSTON
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --