Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Centre, Alabama 35960
Thursday, June 25, 1992 14:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AG PILOT WAS SPRAYING COTTON FOR BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION. HE SURVEYED THE FIELD AND SET UP FOR HIS FIRST PASS. WHILE ON THE PASS, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A SINGLE WIRE STRUNG NEAR THE CORNER OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, AND IT CRASHED ON THE COTTON FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRE DURING HIS INITIAL SURVEY OF THE FIELD. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HELICOPTER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A WIRE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CENTRE
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35960
Event Date Year 1992
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID CKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 251
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 90
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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) 414
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1640
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46326
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68632
NTSB Number ATL92LA131
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 47D1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47D1
Aircraft Serial Number WH5003
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AVICO, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 872
Aircraft Owner City SELMA
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOPPE, DENNIS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 103 OAK DRIVE
Operator City SIKESTON
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 63801
Operator Code
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 No
Departure Airport Code A04
Departure City CENTRE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code A04
Destination City CENTRE
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --