Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85027
Thursday, March 19, 1987 9:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FACTORY FLT TRAINING, PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF THE NEW HELICOPTER TO THE OWNER, THE CFI SAID HE ASKED THE STUDENT TO PERFORM A SERIES OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDED QUICK STOPS FROM AN INITIAL TAKEOFF FOLLOWED BY HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. THE CFI SAID THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ONE SERIES OF MANEUVERS AND HE ASKED HIM TO DO ONE MORE. THE CFI SAID THAT DURING THE DECELERATION PHASE OF THE QUICK STOP, THE STUDENT MISTAKENLY 'ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION' AT ABOUT 25 FT AGL. THE CFI SAID THAT HE IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION AND ATTEMPTED TO ENTER AN AUTO ROTATION, HOWEVER, INSUFFICIENT ENERGY REMAINED IN THE ROTOR TO FULLY ARREST THE DESCENT RATE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/19/1987
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PHOENIX
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85027
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 3
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 845 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID DVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1475
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
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) 2000
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2340
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 26 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36221
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1601Y
NTSB Number LAX87LA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name McDonnell Douglas
Aircraft Model 369E
Aircraft Series Identifier 369E
Aircraft Serial Number 0216E
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 5
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALTER S. MCPHAIL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1061 E. INDIANTOWN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City JUNIPER
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33458
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
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FFZ
Departure City MESA
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 835
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --