Ship Don Juan Z Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kosrae, Guam 96950
Thursday, October 31, 1991 9:55 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CHIEF OFFICER OF THE FISHING VESSEL DON JUAN Z SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO LIFT OFF THE HELIPAD AND SUDDENLY ROLLED TO THE LEFT, CRASHING INTO THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE SHIP, THEN ROLLED INTO THE OCEAN INVERTED. THE HELICOPTER MECHANIC ASSIGNED TO THE SHIP SAID THAT THE STARBOARD TIEDOWN WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT SKID OF THE HELICOPTER AS IT TRIED TO LIFT OFF. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0955 LOCAL SHIP TIME.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER RESULTING IN A TIEDOWN STRAP NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT SKID AND SUBSEQUENT ROLL OVER ON TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City KOSRAE
Event State GUAM
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96950
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHIP DON JUAN Z
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1671
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45548
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7162R
NTSB Number LAX92LA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47-G5A
Aircraft Series Identifier 47-G5A
Aircraft Serial Number 25071
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 Aug 8 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY Z FISHING CO. INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 241 CHRE
Aircraft Owner City SAIPAN
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96950
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DON JUAN Z FISHING CO.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 241 CHRE
Operator City SAIPAN
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96950
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 955
Departure Time Zone
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 Takeoff
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 15
Runway Width 15
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --