Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Slocomb, Alabama 36375
Saturday, August 15, 1992 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AG PILOT HAD COMPLETED SPRAYING A FIELD, AND WAS RETURNING TO HIS NURSE TRUCK. AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER TOWARD AN OPEN CORN FIELD, HOWEVER HE LOST ROTOR RPM WHILE AVOIDING OBSTACLES. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. ONE PINT OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A HARD LANDING DUE TO A POWER LOSS FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUSTABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SLOCOMB
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36375
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 8
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 1549 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID DHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 401
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 367
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46468
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2880B
NTSB Number ATL92LA160
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 47G-2
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G-2
Aircraft Serial Number 1966
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 4 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 142
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DIAMOND, JOHN J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 15
Aircraft Owner City NEWTON
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36352
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DIAMOND, JOHN J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 15
Operator City NEWTON
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36352
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 NONE
Departure City SLOCOMB
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Landing
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 --