Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

John Day, Oregon 97845
Saturday, December 6, 1997 14:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering with a full seed bucket to the work area when he noticed some rotor droop. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and twisted on some more throttle to get the rpm back, however, nothing happened and the throttle hit the stop. The pilot initiated a forced landing and slowed the forward speed. The seed bucket swung forward and the helicopter landed on top of the bucket. The helicopter bounced twice and subsequently came to rest on its left side. Postaccident investigation of the engine revealed that the engine was in a condition for a test run. The engine was started and run for five to ten minutes without any noted problems before it was shut down. Further inspection of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/6/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City JOHN DAY
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97845
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 12
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 1346 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID 5J0
Elevation of weather observation facility 3697
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 1062
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 6 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1919
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N171HH
NTSB Number SEA98LA021
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 Enstrom
Aircraft Model F-28F
Aircraft Series Identifier F-28F
Aircraft Serial Number 730
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 1400
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STANLEY G. HERMENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address HC 82, BOX 208
Aircraft Owner City KIMBERLY
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97848
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 H5HG
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 5J0
Departure City
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
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 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 --