Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hanford, California 93232
Sunday, June 14, 1992 13:18 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER ENPLANING THREE PEOPLE, WHOSE TOTAL WEIGHT WAS ESTIMATED AT 300 POUNDS, THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A FAIR GROUND WITH A 9 TO 14 KNOT RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND BLOWING. THE ENGINE AND MAIN ROTOR RPM DECREASED AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LANDING IN A PARKING LOT THAT WAS DIRECTLY AHEAD OF HIS POSITION. THE HELICOPTER TURNED RIGHT WHEN THE SKIDS TOUCHED THE GROUND AND ROLLED FORWARD ON ITS NOSE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND UNFAVORABLE WINDS THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/14/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1318
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City HANFORD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93232
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 1255 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 259
Weather Observation Facility ID NLC
Elevation of weather observation facility 234
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 230
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2430
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 14 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47142
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N159Q
NTSB Number LAX92LA245
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 ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F28A
Aircraft Series Identifier F28A
Aircraft Serial Number 265
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Feb 29 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 2713
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BACCA, JAMES A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 400 HIRAM CT
Aircraft Owner City TURLOCK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95380
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BACCA, JAMES A.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 400 HIRAM CT
Operator City TURLOCK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95380
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1318
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Climb
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 --