Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Concord, California 95420
Friday, March 11, 1983 10:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING A LANDING AFTER A DECAY IN ROTOR RPM DURING TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ACFT WAS FACING SOUTHEAST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 8 KTS. FOLLOWING A PEDAL TURN INTO THE WIND AFTER TAKEOFF MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE WAS EXECUTED TO CLEAR A TREE THAT WAS 10 FT HIGHER THAN THE SADDLE BETWEEN 2 RIDGES WHERE THE TAKEOFF TOOK PLACE. NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREE THERE WAS A RAPID DECAY OF ROTOR RPM. DUE TO TERRAIN CONSIDERATIONS THE PILOT CHOSE NOT TO LOWER COLLECTIVE. THE ACFT WAS FLYING NEAR A STEEP SLOPE SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN THE OAK TREE TO PREVENT A DOWNHILL ROLL. HE DID NOT FLARE TO PREVENT BALLOONING OVER THE TREE. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 12 LBS. UNDER MAX GROSS WT DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2000 FT. DURING THE LANDING THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE 3 OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/11/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CONCORD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95420
Event Date Year 1983
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 10
Degrees magnetic from airport 83
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 945 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 83
Weather Observation Facility ID CCR
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 693
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20954
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 N5691H
NTSB Number LAX83LA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F280C
Aircraft Series Identifier F280C
Aircraft Serial Number 1175
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 2 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 1030
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROPERTIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2520 STANWELL DRIVE #105
Aircraft Owner City CONCORD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94520
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR EXECUTIVE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 109 JOHN GLEN DRIVE
Operator City CONCORD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94520
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1025
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CCR
Destination City CONCORD
Destination State CA
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 --