Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bay Springs, Mississippi 39422
Wednesday, September 18, 1991 11:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED THAT DURING A STEEP TURN ABOUT 60 FT AGL, THE ENG SPUTTERED. HE REDUCED POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING BUT THE ENG QUIT SHORTLY THEREAFTER. DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT, THE MAIN ROTOR (M R) BLADES CONTACTED TREES. AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE GROUND, THE M R BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE PLT WAS OBSERVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT TO LOOK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT NTSB OR FAA PERMISSION; THEREFORE, FUEL QUANTITY COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE HELICOPTER WAS LOCATED AND EXAM OF THE ENG AND ITS COMPONENTS REVEALED CONTAMINANTS IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE ENG WAS STARTED AND FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENG POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BAY SPRINGS
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39422
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1647
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45308
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9010T
NTSB Number MIA91LA220
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 CONTINENTAL COPTERS
Aircraft Model TOMCAT MK5A
Aircraft Series Identifier TOMCAT MK5
Aircraft Serial Number CCI-74-3
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 1
Number of Engines 1
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 No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GULF HELICOPTER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8409 ROBERT JEFFERSON, DR.
Aircraft Owner City THEODORE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36582
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GULF HELICOPTER, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8409 ROBERT JEFFERSON, DR.
Operator City THEODORE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36582
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
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 Descent
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 --