Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Redlands, California 92734
Friday, February 16, 1990 6:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE OPERATOR BORROWED THE HELICOPTER FROM THE OWNER UNDER A VERBAL STIPULATION THAT AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WOULD NOT BE USED. THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER WAS NOT APPROVED FOR AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF AN STC. HOWEVER, THE OPERATOR WAS KNOWN TO REFUEL HIS HELICOPTERS WITH AUTO GAS. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO ERADICATE FROST FROM CITRUS TREES. AFTER REFUELING, THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AND DESCENDED STRIKING WIRES AND TREES. THE OPERATOR DRAINED THE FUEL FROM THE HELICOPTER ON THE GROUND AND TRANSPORTED IT TO HIS FACILITY. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED FOUR DAYS LATER. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED A SMALL QUANTITY OF FUEL WITH EVIDENCE OF AUTO GAS. LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF FUEL SAMPLE REVEALED SAMPLE HAD THE SAME AROMATIC QUALITIES AS AUTO GAS. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE ONSET OF CARBURETOR ICE WILL OCCUR QUICKER WITH AUTO GAS THAN WITH AVIATION FUEL. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO FROST FORMING ON FRUIT TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHEN WARRENTED BY CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/16/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 630
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City REDLANDS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92734
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 557 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 288
Weather Observation Facility ID SBD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1157
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1043
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 20 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42262
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11HU
NTSB Number LAX90LA095
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 47B3
Aircraft Series Identifier 47B3
Aircraft Serial Number 11
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 11 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 12000
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name POULOS, RANDELL B
Aircraft Owner Street Address 226 BROADMOOR STREET
Aircraft Owner City WEST COVINA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91790
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ZIMLOCK HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7000 MERRILL AVE.
Operator City CHINO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91710
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
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 Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --