Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chemult, Oregon 97331
Tuesady, May 17, 1988 12:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 6,300 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATION. 150 FEET FROM THE INITIAL TAKEOFF THE HELICOPTER ROTOR STIRRED UP DUST AND DEBRIS FROM A ROAD, CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A TREE AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO ITS LEFT SIDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CHEMULT
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97331
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
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 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 4000
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 6300
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 436
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 17 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1320
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36314
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5258C
NTSB Number SEA88LA097
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 HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369E
Aircraft Series Identifier 369E
Aircraft Serial Number 182E
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 5710
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name W.T.D. INDUSTRIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10300 S.W. GREENBUR
Aircraft Owner City PORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name W I D INDUSTRIES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 10300 S.W. GREENBUR
Operator City PORTLAND
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97223
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City CHEMULT
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 4S7
Destination City MALIN
Destination State OR
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 --