Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Five Points, California 93624
Sunday, February 3, 1985 12:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE PERFORMING AN AG FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER'S ENGIN SUDDENLY LOST POWER. AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEAR ITS MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT AND IT WAS BETWEEN 3-5FT AGL. AS THE AIRCRAFT YAWED LEFT AND DESCENDED.THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A SMALL DIRT ROAD. THE PILOT INCOMMAND MISSED THE ROAD, COLLIDED WITH THE EMBANKMENT OF OF A CANAL AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ROD BOLTS TO THE #1 CON ROD WERE BROKEN. ONE OF THE NUTS HAD BACKED OFF FROM THE ROD BOLT. EXAMINATION OF THE BOLTS IN THE OTHER 5 CYLINDERS DISCLOSED THAT NONE OF THEM HAD BEEN TIGHTENED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER'S OVERHAUL SPECIFICATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT'S OWNER PERFORMED THE LAST MOH ON THE ENGINE 907 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/3/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City FIVE POINTS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93624
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 2
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 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 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 NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1928
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 4 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1425
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29310
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5323V
NTSB Number LAX85FA132
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 UH12E
Aircraft Series Identifier UH12E
Aircraft Serial Number 942
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 Aug 4 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 3767
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COALINGA COMMUTER & CARGO AL
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1, P.O. BOX 245
Aircraft Owner City COALINGA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93210
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WESTSIDE AG AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1164
Operator City COALINGA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93210
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 FIVE POINTS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1225
Departure Time Zone PST
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 10:36AM
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 --