Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stockton, Alabama 36579
Thursday, January 28, 1988 17:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS ENROUTE FROM ITS LOGGING SITE TO THE REFUELING BARGE ANCHORED IN A RIVER. THE ENG LOST POWER AND THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A CLEAR AREA. THE PLT LANDED IN A SWAMP WITH NUMEROUS DEAD TREES. THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED. THERE WERE NO FRACTURES OF THE SYSTEM. THIS WAS A NEW ACFT AND ENG COMBINATION TO THE COMPANY AND THIS PLT. IT HAD A LARGER ENG INSTALLED THAN THE OTHER CO ACFT. THE PLT IDENTIFIED THE FUEL LOW WARNING LIGHT AS A TWENTY MINUTE LIGHT. THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WAS INACCURATE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City STOCKTON
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36579
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 1
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 1751 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 235
Weather Observation Facility ID MOB
Elevation of weather observation facility 218
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 448
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 28 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2055
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36154
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8514F
NTSB Number ATL88FA085
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
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 204B
Aircraft Series Identifier 204B
Aircraft Serial Number 2030
Certified Max Gross Weight 9500
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 16398
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BILL WILLIAMS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1088
Aircraft Owner City OZARK
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36361
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TENSAW HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 850097
Operator City MOBILE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36685
Operator Code
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CST
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 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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --