Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Osage, Arkansas 72611
Wednesday, May 4, 1994 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER WAS SERVICED WITH 30 GALLONS OF FUEL FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT TO DISPENSE 100 GALLONS OF PESTICIDES. AFTER A 45 MINUTE SORTIE, THE HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE BACK TO THE LOADING SITE, OVER HEAVILY WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER TEMPORARILY, AND LOST POWER FOR A SECOND TIME 5 TO 8 SECONDS LATER. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED ABOVE THE TREE TOPS AND SETTLED THROUGH THE TREES COMING TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL CELL. THE AVERAGE FUEL BURN RATE IS 25 TO 26 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN IN AN ENGINE TEST CELL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OSAGE
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72611
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 65
Weather Observation Facility ID HRO
Elevation of weather observation facility 1364
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 150
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 4 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:13AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90469
NTSB Number FTW94LA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HILLER
Aircraft Model UH-12E
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-12E
Aircraft Serial Number 2358
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 13 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 5989
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EVERGREEN EQUITY INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3850 THREE MILE LANE
Aircraft Owner City MCMINNVILLE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97128
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 LCFG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --