Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minot, North Dakota 58523
Tuesady, September 8, 1987 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE TOOK OFF FM A NRBY NURSE TRUCK, THE WIND WAS FM THE NE AT 5 TO 7 MPH. HE MADE AN OBSERVATION PASS ACROSS THE AREA TO BE TREATED, THEN BGN A DSCNDG RGT TURN TO MAKE A SWATH RUN IN THE OPPOSITE DRCTN. HE STATED HE WAS UNAWARE OF A WIND-SHIFT TO THE NW. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED WHAT THE PLT THOUGHT WAS WAKE TURBC FM THE OBSERVATION PASS. THE ACFT BGN TO SETTLE & THE PLT INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE DSCNT. THE PLT SAID THE 'RECOVERY ENDED IN A DEEP CANYON APPROX 150 TO 200 FT DEEP. EMERGENCY TRIP DOOR SOLENOID TO RELEASE LOAD FAILEDTO WORK. WAS ONLY ABLE TO SUSTAIN HOVER FOR APPROX 2 MIN BEFORE A/C SETTLED ON A 30 TO 40 (DEGREE) EMBANKMENT & SLID DOWN 40 FT TO TREES, TAIL FIRST.' RPRTDLY THE DUMP VLV FAILED TO OPERATE DUE TO CORROSION FM CHEMICALS CARRIED ON THE PREVIOUS FLT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1987
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MINOT
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58523
Event Date Year 1987
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1500 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID MOT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1668
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 3200
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1105
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34297
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2238W
NTSB Number DEN87DTG02
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 47G-4A
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G-4A
Aircraft Serial Number 7704
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARIMORE AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX V
Aircraft Owner City LARIMORE
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58251
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES H MORTEN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX V
Operator City LARIMORE
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58251
Operator Code WFBG
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 1525
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --