Cliff Hatfield Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Calipatria, California 92233
Wednesday, March 8, 2000 12:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter took off to the south and began a climb. Upon reaching about 60 feet above the ground, the helicopter lost power. At this time the helicopter was approaching power lines and the pilot used cyclic to climb over them. After clearing the wires, the pilot attempted an autorotative landing but there was insufficient main rotor speed to cushion the landing. The helicopter impacted the ground and the main rotor flexed severing the tail boom.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate checklist procedure prior to departure, which did not verify the fuel selector was in the proper position for flight, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed for an autorotative landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/8/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CALIPATRIA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92233
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 330748N
Event Location Longitude 1153118W
Event Location Airport Cliff Hatfield Memorial
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CLR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.65
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation -180
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IPL
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) -338
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12458
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 8 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2003 10:16AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39FA
NTSB Number LAX00LA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Arrow Aircraft Co.
Aircraft Model OH-58A
Aircraft Series Identifier OH-58A
Aircraft Serial Number 71-20660
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 4
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 --
Airframe Hours 4685
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES PANKRATZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CALIPATRIA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92233
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code NJHG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CLR
Departure City CALIPATRIA
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CLR
Destination City CALIPATRIA
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Oct 10 2002 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 3440
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --