Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Index, Washington 98256
Thursday, June 27, 1991 14:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD LOGGING OPN AND THE PIC HAD LANDED AT A FIELD SITE TO REFUEL. THE PIC EXITED, WITH THE ACFT RUNNING AT FULL RPM WHILE IT WAS BEING REFUELED, AND THE COPILOT REMAINED IN THE RIGHT SEAT COMPLETING LOAD REPORTS. THE ACFT CONTROLS WERE UNATTENDED. THE CREW CHIEF WAS SEATED IN THE AFT FACING HOIST OPR STATION, WHICH HAD THE COLLECTIVE PITCH STICK INSTALLED BESIDE THE SEAT. HE HAD BECOME AIR SICK DURING THE FLT, AND REMAINED SEATED AFTER THE PIC EXITED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO EXIT, WHICH REQUIRED THAT HE STAND, TURN AROUND AND STEP UP OUT OF THE SEAT WELL, THE ACFT TOOK OFF TO A HOVER AND ROTATED TO THE LEFT. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A ROTOR BLADE BOX ON TOP OF A SUPPORT TRAILER PARKED BY THE REFUELING SITE, FRACTURING THE AFT TAIL BOOM, PYLON AND TAIL ROTOR FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN, ROLLED OVER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE MECHANIC WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY RAISED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH AND THE COPILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTEND THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOTION SICKNESS OF THE MECHANIC, INADEQUATE COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL LOCKING MECHANISM UTILIZED BY THE COMPANY, AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THAT DIVERTED THE CO-PILOT'S ATTENTION FROM ATTENDING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1405
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City INDEX
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98256
Event Date Year 1991
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 1352 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID PAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 606
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 2
On Ground, Serious Injuries 1
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 738
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44710
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6959R
NTSB Number SEA91FA143
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-64E
Aircraft Series Identifier S-64E
Aircraft Serial Number 64002
Certified Max Gross Weight 42000
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ERICKSON AIR CRANE CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 3247
Aircraft Owner City CENTRAL POINT
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ERICKSON AIR CRANE CO.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 3247
Operator City CENTRAL POINT
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97502
Operator Code JYDL
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City INDEX
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
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 Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --