Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Timber, Oregon 97144
Tuesady, April 11, 1995 10:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS TOWED ON A TRAILER TO THE AREA WHERE IT WAS TO BE USED FOR AERIAL APPLICATION WORK. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE THEN SECURED TO THE ROTOR HEAD, BUT THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS NOT REMOVED. DURING HIS PREFLIGHT, THE PILOT FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS STILL IN PLACE. UPON TAKING OFF FROM THE TRAILER, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BECAUSE THE SHIPPING BLOCK WAS RESTRICTING THE OPERATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT DURING WHICH HE FAILED TO NOTICE THE MAIN ROTOR SHIPPING BLOCK HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED, AND THE RESULTANT RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TIMBER
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97144
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 497
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 11 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1005
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N508HV
NTSB Number SEA95LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
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 5008
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 23 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 86
Airframe Hours 975
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REFORESTATION SERVICES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3197
Aircraft Owner City SALEM
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97302
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 GEYG
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 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Takeoff
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 --