Cnty Boy Crop Dusting Arp Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tolleson, Arizona 85353
Wednesday, August 16, 1989 4:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE SPRAY HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE AFTER A TAKEOFF FROM A REFUELING STOP. THE AIRCRAFT AUTOROTATED INTO AN OPEN FIELD, BOUNCED AND ROLLED OVER INTO ITS SIDE. A FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN ON THE SAME DAY REVEALED THAT APPROXIMATELY 15% OF THE FUEL WAS WATER. A LATER TEST OF THE FUEL BY THE COMPANY REVEALED THAT CONTAMINATION WAS TWO QUARTS TO FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH PRECEDED AN AUTOROTATION AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND DURING NIGHT TIME CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 430
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City TOLLESON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85353
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CNTY BOY CROP DUSTING ARP
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 450 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2228
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41989
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7086
NTSB Number LAX89DUJ09
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
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 UH-12E
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-12E
Aircraft Serial Number 1699
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Mar 20 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 120
Airframe Hours 3292
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FREEWAY AV AG, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2216
Aircraft Owner City LITCHFIELD PARK
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85340
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MOSELEY AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 70
Operator City LITCHFIELD PARK
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85340
Operator Code ZBUG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 430
Departure Time Zone MST
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 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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --