Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakecreek, Oregon 97524
Tuesady, March 7, 1995 13:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON A LOCAL PRACTICE FLIGHT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ALMOST DIRECTLY BENEATH TRANSMISSION LINES, THE LOWEST WHICH WAS NO MORE THAN 26 FEET AGL. WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION INDICATED A SLOW VELOCITY OR HOVER CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE LOWER VERTICAL STABILIZER STINGER TUBE WAS FOUND IMBEDDED IN THE SOIL ALONGSIDE A GOUGE MADE BY THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE BOTTOM WIRE WAS SEVERED WHEN ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND SEPARATED AND IMPACTED THE WIRE DURING ITS FREE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE TRANSMISSION LINES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City LAKECREEK
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97524
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
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 1350 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID MFR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1331
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1070
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 8 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 755
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N59HS
NTSB Number SEA95FA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name McDonnell Douglas
Aircraft Model 369E
Aircraft Series Identifier 369E
Aircraft Serial Number 0221E
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 680
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUTTON, HERBERT, W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12214 MODOC ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WHITE CITY
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97503
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WEIDMAN, RONALD, W.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12222 MODOC ROAD
Operator City WHITE CITY
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97503
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MFR
Departure City MEDFORD
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1225
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Hover
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 --