Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Haleakla Nat Pk, Hawaii 96788
Saturday, December 8, 1990 14:00 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO UPRIGHT AN ANIMAL CAGE BY PULLING IT OVER WITH A 'LONG LINE' ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115 POUNDS OF FUEL IN THE HELICOPTER'S FUEL TANK. THE POWER PLANT FAILED WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S NOSE RAISED DURING THE TOW. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE LEFT REAR LANDING GEAR STRUT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED POSTS AROUND THE PERIMETERS OF THE CORRAL OVER WHICH THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING. DUPLICATING THE AIRCRAFT'S PITCH ATTITUDE AND FUEL LOAD, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PICK-UP POINT IS UN-PORTED AT FUEL QUANTITY LEVELS AT OR BELOW 115 POUNDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE UNPORTING OF THE FUEL SUPPLY PICK-UP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/8/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City HALEAKLA NAT PK
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96788
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 12
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2062
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 8 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45512
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1113L
NTSB Number LAX91LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 110837
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 5
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 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PACIFFIC HELICOPTER TOURS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address KAHULUI HELIPORT HANGER 109
Operator City KAHULUI
Operator State HI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96732
Operator Code DBZA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OGG
Departure City KAHULUI
Departure State HI
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone HST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OGG
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --