Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stockbridge, Michigan 49285
Tuesady, August 14, 1990 5:54 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AGRICULTURAL HEILCOPTER HAD JUST TAKEN OFF ON AN EARLY MORNING RE-POSITIONING FLIGHT WHEN THE CANOPY BECAME COMPLETELY FOGGED OVER. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD RE-ORIENT HIMSELF BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE OPENING, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A POWER POLE AND WIRES. THE COLLISION CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO RUPTURE AND SPRAYED AVIATION FUEL ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPES. THE ENSUING FIRE DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE RESTRICTED VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH RESULTED FROM THE CANOPY FOGGING UP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 554
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City STOCKBRIDGE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49285
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID JXN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 900
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1693
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43185
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3656F
NTSB Number CHI90DEC04
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 In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47 D-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47 D-1
Aircraft Serial Number 307
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 5166
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALLIED HELICOPTER SER., INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1201 W. 36TH STREET W.
Aircraft Owner City TULSA
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74148
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALLIED HELICOPTER SERVICE, INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1201 W. 36TH STREET W.
Operator City TULSA
Operator State OK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 74148
Operator Code
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 553
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --