Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hawesville, Kentucky 42348
Wednesday, May 27, 1987 20:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A WEED CONTROL SPRAYING OPERATION, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER FAILURE 45 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AUTOROTATION ATTEMPT RESULTED IN THE HELICOPTER IMPACTING THE GROUND ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WAS LOOSE AT THE B-NUT. THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED ABOUT SEVEN HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO OTHER SYSTEM FAILURES. IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE B-NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS LAST INSTALLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HAWESVILLE
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 42348
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 5
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 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 2000
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) 10000
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 696
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 27 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33897
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9180F
NTSB Number ATL87DLQ02
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 HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369HS
Aircraft Series Identifier 369HS
Aircraft Serial Number 340570S
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 20 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HELICOPTER MINIT-MEN, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 21125
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HELICOPTER MINIT-MEN,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3136 TRAVUE ROAD
Operator City COLUMBUS
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 43221
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 0
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --