Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lockport, Illinois 60441
Saturday, June 17, 1989 20:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER FAILED TO CLIMB HIGH ENOUGH TO CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING HIS ACCELERATION TO LEVEL FLIGHT DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA FOR A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER STRUCK A TREE WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND STRUCK A HOUSE, WIRES, AND ANOTHER TREE BEFORE IMPACTING TERRAIN AND ROLLING ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE FLIGHT WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF SCENIC FLIGHTS CONDUCTED BY THE OPERATOR FROM A TEMPORARY LANDING SITE AT A CARNIVAL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER FLIGHT TECHNIQUE BY THE PIC DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2045
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LOCKPORT
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60441
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2045 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ARR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1128
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2174
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41851
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26628
NTSB Number CHI89FA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier 269C
Aircraft Serial Number 1100992
Certified Max Gross Weight 1980
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 3085
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EAGLE AIR HELICOPTER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 46W680 LOCUST
Aircraft Owner City ELBURN
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60119
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code IKFA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 LOCKPORT
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2045
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Takeoff
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 --