Coalinga Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coalinga, California 93210
Thursday, February 19, 1987 8:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT BEFORE HE BEGAN THE AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT HE NOTED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE PLT COMPLETED TWO FLIGHTS, RETURNING TO THE LOADING AREA AFTER EACH FLIGHT. AFTER COMPLETING THE THIRD FLIGHT AND WHILE RETURNING TO THE LOADING AREA THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. DURING THE ENSUING AUTOROTATION THE PLT FLARED TOO HIGH AND LOST TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A RISING EMBANKMENT AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING ON ITS RIGHT SKID. THE POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL CONTROL INLET LINES DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/1987
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City COALINGA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93210
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COALINGA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CLG
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1436
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 20 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 920
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34808
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N46991
NTSB Number LAX87DVA05
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 OH23D
Aircraft Series Identifier OH23D
Aircraft Serial Number 962
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 Sep 12 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 11043
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAN JOAQUIN HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1, BOX 422
Aircraft Owner City DELANO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93215
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAN JOAQUIN HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 422
Operator City DELANO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93215
Operator Code
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 655
Departure Time Zone PST
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 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 --