Detroit City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Detroit, Michigan 48226
Wednesday, July 4, 1984 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT LANDED IN THE DETROIT RIVER AFTER THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THE ACFT VIBRATED. THE PLT REDUCED PWR & COLLECTIVE AND PUSHED THE CYCLIC FORWARD. THE RPM REDUCED FROM 3000 TO 2500 BUT THE ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM REMAINED MARRIED. THE PLT ADJUSTED DESCENT WITH COLLECTIVE, FORWARD SPEED WITH CYCLIC AND PULLED ALL COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE ACFT WAS AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. ONE PASSENGER DESCRIBED A SPUTTERING NOISE BUT SAID THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING UNTIL IMPACT. ANOTHER PASSENGER DESCRIBED THE ENGINE NOISE AS A MUFFLED MISFIRING SOUND. THE PASSENGERS ALSOSAID THE PLT DID NOT MENTION THE PROBLEM TO THEM AND THE HELICOPTER SEEMED UNDER CONTROL UNTIL IMPACT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER RECOVERY FROM THE WATER SHOWED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN AND CONTAINED A HEAVY BUILD-UP OF CARBON AND LEAD. NEAR THE OPERATORS HANGER WERE 5 SEALED AND 1 UNSEALED FUEL DRUMS WITH STANDING WATER ON THE TOPS. NO OTHER EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE ANY MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1984
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DETROIT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48226
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DETROIT CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DET
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport 195
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 15
Weather Observation Facility ID DET
Elevation of weather observation facility 639
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 6027
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26061
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number CFISH
NTSB Number CHI84LA279
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G2
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G2
Aircraft Serial Number 1522
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign 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 May 17 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59
Airframe Hours 11482
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARROW SMITH LIMITED
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR #3
Aircraft Owner City TILBURY,ONTARIO
Aircraft Owner State CD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1612
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 10:36AM
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 --