Sanford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Florida 32771
Saturday, January 30, 1988 10:29 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GIVE HIMSELF A CHECKOUT IN THE HELICOPTER FOR HE BELIEVED THE FEE FOR A CHECK PLT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. DURING A SECOND ATTEMPT AT HOVER FLT HE POSITIONED HIMSELF WITH A 90 DEGREE, 12 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND. AS THE ACFT BECAME LIGHT ON THE WHEELS IT BEGAN ROLLING UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE LEFT. HIS GROUND CREW STATED THAT AT THIS POINT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE GROUND CONTACT. FULL CYCLIC CONTROL WAS NEEDED TO RIGHT THE ACFT AFTER IT BECAME AIRBORNE HOWEVER THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE TO GET THE ACFT ON THE GROUND UNDER CONTROL AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AGAIN TOUCHED THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/30/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1029
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SANFORD
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32771
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 SANFORD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 57
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1029 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SFB
Elevation of weather observation facility 57
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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 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) 209
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 30 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35827
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2769P
NTSB Number MIA88LA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-58E
Aircraft Series Identifier S-58E
Aircraft Serial Number 58-077D
Certified Max Gross Weight 13000
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 29 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2856
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD J. SALTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1824 FOXHALL CT.
Aircraft Owner City KISSIMMEE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32741
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM L. MITCHELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 44 SUNDALE CIRCLE
Operator City PARAGOULD
Operator State AR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 72450
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1029
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Landing - flare/touchdown
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 --