Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coon Rapids, Minnesota 55433
Tuesady, July 31, 1990 10:07 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED, HOWEVER THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND LANDED HARD RENDERING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE TANKS OF THE HELICOPTER. WHEN FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE TANKS THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS FUEL SUPPLY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1007
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COON RAPIDS
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55433
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
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 1000 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID MSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 840
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 918
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42089
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4990H
NTSB Number CHI90DER03
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G3B1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G3B1
Aircraft Serial Number 2942
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 4410
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCOTT CHURCHILL
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 92
Aircraft Owner City LESUEUR
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56058
Operator is an individual? --
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 CUHG
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City COON RAPIDS
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ANE
Destination City ANOKA CO.
Destination State MN
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --