Sanford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Florida 32772
Friday, March 17, 2000 13:52 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While climbing after takeoff, the pilot stated he experienced a 1 to 1 vibration. He lowered the collective and initiated an approach the surface. The vibration got worse and as he approached the surface and raised the collective the helicopter felt like there was no response from the controls. The helicopter hit hard and rolled onto it's side. Post crash examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector showed no obvious mechanical defects in the rotors or flight control systems. The left engine magneto 'P' lead was found loose, rendering the magneto inoperative. The threads on the 'P' lead had no damage and the magneto was not damaged from impact.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper collective and cyclic control usage during an emergency descent, following the onset of a 1 to 1 vibration for undetermined reasons, resulting in the helicopter landing hard and rolling over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1352
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SANFORD
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32772
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SANFORD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFB
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 55
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID SFB
Elevation of weather observation facility 55
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 160
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 17 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5304V
NTSB Number MIA00LA111
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 UH-12B
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-12B
Aircraft Serial Number 575
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 Oct 1 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 3998
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LUIS DIAZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address 561 RIDGELINE RUN
Aircraft Owner City LONGWOOD
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32750
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT KIVLEN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 15308 COUNTY ROAD 225
Operator City GAINESVILLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32609
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 SFB
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EST
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
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 --