Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ogden, Utah 84408
Friday, September 10, 1993 15:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING OVER GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAD SET THE BUG ON THE RADAR ALTIMETER FOR 50 FEET; HOWEVER, WHILE HE WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR REFERENCE, THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED BELOW 50 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SUDDENLY HAD A SENSATION OF MOVEMENT OVER THE WATER, AND JUST SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE WATER, THE PILOT NOTED TEN FEET ABOVE WATER LEVEL ON THE RADAR ALTIMETER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS GLASSY WATER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City OGDEN
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84408
Event Date Year 1993
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1545 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID OGD
Elevation of weather observation facility 4470
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1521
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 13 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:39PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N818R
NTSB Number SEA93LA196
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 AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA-365-N2
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-365-N2
Aircraft Serial Number 6377
Certified Max Gross Weight 9370
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 462
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN STORES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 171 NORTH 2400 WEST
Aircraft Owner City SALT LAKE CITY
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84116
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMERICAN STORES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 171 NORTH 2400 WEST
Operator City SALT LAKE CITY
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84116
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 --