Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gatlingurg, Tennessee 37738
Saturday, August 6, 1983 16:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ON A WOODED MOUNTAINSIDE AFTER LIFTOFF. THE PLT SAID A POWER LOSS OCCURRED AFTER ITWAS TO LATE TO ABORT. TAKEOFF WAS MADE FROM A LOT THAT WAS 5200 FT MSL. THE PLT HOVER-CHECKED AT 2500 RPM AND 39.5 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE PRIOR TO TRANSITION TO FORWARD FLT. THE ACFT CLIMBED ONLY 20 FT BEFORE POWERLOSS OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO CHIP LIGHTS OR UNUSUAL ENGINE GAGE READINGS. THIS WAS THE PLTS 65TH TRIP FOR THE DAY. DURING THE IMPACT THE THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE COMPRESSION WAS FOUND TO BE LOW ON 4 CYLINDERS, TWO OF WHICH WERE ZERO. TSO WAS 573 HOURS. THE CARBURETOR INLET SCREEN WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED WITH FIBER LINT. COMPRESSION WAS BEING LOST THROUGH THE EXHAUST VALVES. FUEL FILTER WERE PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED WITH CONTAMINANTS FROM FUEL DRUMS AT A WORKSITE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GATLINGURG
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37738
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 8
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 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 1400
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2827
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 23122
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 N6488
NTSB Number ATL83FA312
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-58D
Aircraft Series Identifier S-58D
Aircraft Serial Number 581573
Certified Max Gross Weight 12700
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78
Airframe Hours 8247
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ST. LOUIS HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1347
Aircraft Owner City MARYLAND HEIGHT
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63043
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 Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3A9
Destination City SEVIERVILLE
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --