Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582
Thursday, August 25, 1988 18:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. DURING A SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATION ON A BEACH, THE MAIN ROTOR FLEXED DOWNWARD & DAMAGED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE PLT RPRTD HE LANDED DOWNWIND IN APRX 2 TO 3 FT OF WATER TO AVOID PERSONS ON THE BEACH. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT ONLY 7 POUNDS OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE INTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. FUEL CAPACITY FOR THE HELICOPTER WAS 43 GALLONS. ONLY 41 OF THE 43 GALLONS WAS CONSIDERED TO BY USABLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/25/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1855
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City N MYRTLE BEACH
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29582
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CRE
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5022
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36570
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N902Z
NTSB Number ATL88IA238
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G
Aircraft Serial Number 1402
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 4 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 13708
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EAST COAST HELICOPTER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2812 EMMITSBURG RD.
Aircraft Owner City GETTYSBURG
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17325
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 39 PINE DRAWER E
Operator City MYRTLE BEACH
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29577
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EDT
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
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 22 2001 3:51PM
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 Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --