Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tarpon Springs, Florida 34688
Wednesday, September 17, 1997 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight had departed from an island after completing a mosquito control inspection. The pilot said he was at a cruise setting of '23 inches [manifold] plus 2800 rpm' and at an altitude of 200 feet above the water, when the engine started 'missing' and 'failed to develop enough power to maintain flight.' The engine sputtered and regained full power. The pilot was setting up for an autorotation with a forward airspeed of 50 knots. The pilot further said he had 'split the needles,' and had set the engine rpm at 2,000. When he decelerated the helicopter at 50 feet above the water, the engine came back on line. The pilot then 'joined' the needles and established an attitude to continue flight when the landing skid contacted the water. A test run was performed on the engine. Due to damage to the magneto's and the ignition harness, these components had to be repaired prior to running the engine. The test run of the engine revealed no discrepancies at all power sittings.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TARPON SPRINGS
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34688
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 9
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 731
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6786M
NTSB Number MIA97TA246
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hughes
Aircraft Model 269A
Aircraft Series Identifier 269A
Aircraft Serial Number 0893
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 16 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 12172
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PASCO COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2308 MARATHRON RD.
Aircraft Owner City ODESSA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33556
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
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City ANCLOTC ISLAND
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Maneuvering
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 --