Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palm Beach, Florida 33480
Wednesday, November 4, 1992 10:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED HIS SPRAYING AND HAD LANDED, WHEN A GROVE WORKER REQUESTED A RIDE OVER THE GROVE. WHILE MANEUVERING AT 150 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM DURING THE AUTOROTATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/4/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1005
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PALM BEACH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33480
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
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 957 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 12
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1900
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 562
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 4 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1107
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47960
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94720
NTSB Number MIA93LA014
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 47-G3-B1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47-G3-B1
Aircraft Serial Number 67-159115
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Nov 19 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 6656
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COLONY HELICOPTERS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1589
Aircraft Owner City LABELLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33935
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COLONY HELICOPTERS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1589
Operator City LABELLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33935
Operator Code COOG
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EST
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 --