Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phlox, Wisconsin 54464
Thursday, June 10, 1993 19:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE ROAD ADJACENT TO THE POTATO FIELD HE HAD BEEN SPRAYING AND WAS GOING TO REPOSITION FOR ANOTHER SPRAYING RUN. WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, IT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE BRUSH AND TREES SOUTH OF THE RIVER. THE PILOT'S SON STATED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO ANOMALIES WERE DISCOVERED DURING ENGINE TEARDOWN. HOWEVER, THE CYCLIC STICK CONTROLS FOR THE RIGHT SEAT, THE SEAT THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM, WERE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE FOR THE LEFT SEAT. THE RIGHT STICK WAS SIGNIFICANTLY FURTHER BACK AND TO THE LEFT THAN THE LEFT CONTROLS. IN FACT, THE SON SAID TO A WITNESS THAT '...IN ORDER TO FLY THE HELICOPTER LEVEL, HE (THE PILOT) HAD TO HAVE THE CYCLIC ALMOST FULL LEFT.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE CYCLIC CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PHLOX
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54464
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
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 Witness
Time of the weather observation 1900
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 315
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 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) 1953
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 10 1993 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 11 2000 1:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73988
NTSB Number CHI93LA201
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G-2A-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G-2A-1
Aircraft Serial Number 2878
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3047
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RED DOG HELICOPTER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HWY 17
Aircraft Owner City GLEASON
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54435
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RED DOG HELICOPTER, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address HWY 17
Operator City GLEASON
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 54435
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 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 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 --