Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elgin, Oregon 97827
Saturday, May 28, 1988 9:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO PRACTICE FOR HIS AERIAL APPLICATORS CERTIFICATE. WATER WAS BEING USED INSTEAD OF CHEMICAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE DURING TAKEOFF IT BEGAN TO OSCILLATE. AS IN PRIOR OCCURRENCES, THE PILOT REDUCED POWER. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED THE OSCILLATIONS BEGAN TO WORSEN ANDTHE PILOT STARTED A TURN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A SMALL TREE AND THE TAILBOOM STRUCK A METAL FENCE POST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY NEAR MAX GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT GROUND SPEED WAS 0-5 MPH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ELGIN
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97827
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 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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1700
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) 772
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 3 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36624
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 N370FH
NTSB Number SEA88LA106
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 HILLER
Aircraft Model FH-1100
Aircraft Series Identifier FH-1100
Aircraft Serial Number 98
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 28 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAMBLING ROTORS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 2
Aircraft Owner City LA GRANDE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DORAN ROGERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O.BOX 97827
Operator City GARFIELD
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99130
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 --
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
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 --