Clark's Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Justin, Texas 76247
Wednesday, December 2, 1992 17:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER DEVELOPED A SEVERE VERTICAL VIBRATION WHILE ON HIS TURN TO FINAL APPROACH WHILE ON A TEST FLIGHT FOR COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD SHORT OF HIS INTENDED LANDING POINT. WHILE ON AN EXAGGERATED FLARE TO AVOID IMPACTING LARGE BALES OF HAY, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TAILBOOM. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID FOLDED PRIOR TO THE HELICOPTER COMING TO A STOP. THE SOURCE OF THE VERTICAL VIBRATION WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City JUSTIN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76247
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CLARK'S AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3TX6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 170
Airport Elevation 705
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1047 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 178
Weather Observation Facility ID AFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 722
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 700
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) 2898
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 3 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1005
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47742
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1048P
NTSB Number FTW93LA047
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 HILLER
Aircraft Model UH12B
Aircraft Series Identifier UH12B
Aircraft Serial Number 635
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 Dec 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLARK, LANDIS E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 98 M
Aircraft Owner City JUSTIN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76247
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLARK, LANDIS E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 98 M
Operator City JUSTIN
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76247
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3TX6
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1655
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3TX6
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 35
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 22
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --