Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moultrie, Georgia 31768
Saturday, August 6, 1983 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER COMPLETING A SWATH RUN, THE PLT PULLED UP, MADE A TURN, THEN STARTED A LET DOWN FOR ANOTHER PASS. AS HE INCREASED POWER, THE ENG RPM WENT FROM 3000 TO 3100. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT HEARD A WHINING NOISE AND NOTED THAT THE ROTOR RPM WAS DECREASING. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT BEFORE THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED, THEN ROLLED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, PN 47-620-609-1, REVEALED IT HAD AN ESTIMATED 60% CONTACT BETWEEN THE SHOE LININGS AND THE DRUM FACE. A MINIMUM OF 85% CONTACT WAS REQUIRED. THE CLUTCH DID NOT CONFORM TO THE TOE-IN REQUIREMENTS AND NONE OF THE HEELS OF THE CLUTCH SHOES WERE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRUM, THE HELICOPTER HAD FLOWN 220 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WHEN THE CLUTCH SHOES WERE DEGLAZED 8 THE CLUTCH DRUM WAS CHECKED, AND IT HAD FLOWN APPRX 13 HRS SINCE THE LAST 100 HR INSPECTION.

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 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MOULTRIE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31768
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 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 45
Airport Elevation 292
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID ABY
Elevation of weather observation facility 210
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
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) 29
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) 1247
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21542
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 N68632
NTSB Number ATL83LA315
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 Unknown
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 47D1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47D1
Aircraft Serial Number WH 5003
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 23 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 2482
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUNBELT FLYERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 5 BOX 690
Aircraft Owner City MOULTRIE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31768
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 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 No
Departure Airport Code MUL
Departure City MOULTRIE
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1625
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 Maneuvering
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 --