Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monitor, Washington 98836
Monday, September 18, 1989 7:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A 35 FT. HIGH WIND MACHINE WHILE THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SWATH RUN, SPRAYING AN APPLE ORCHARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING TOWARD THE EAST, FACING A BRIGHT RISING MORNING SUN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT SEPARATION FROM OBSTACLES ON THE GROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE BRIGHT GLARE FROM THE RISING SUN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 735
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MONITOR
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98836
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
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 758 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID EAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1245
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 940
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1955
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 18 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41164
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83111
NTSB Number SEA89LA175
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G3B2
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G3B2
Aircraft Serial Number 6857
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Jun 15 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 105
Airframe Hours 4414
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CASCADE HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 407 N. DIVISION
Aircraft Owner City CASHMERE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98815
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 GFHG
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City MONITOR
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 630
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 Maneuvering
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 --