Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wabash, Indiana 46992
Friday, August 12, 1983 6:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AUTOROTATION PRACTICE, WHEN THE PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF, THE ENGINE QUIT. AN ENGINE RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED. THIS TIME LAPSE ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO DECAY AND A PROPER AUTOROTATION COULD NOT BE DONE IN THEREMAINING ALTITUDE. THE ACFT LANDED HARD HITTING A FARM FENCE AND ROLLING OVER. BEFORE TAKEOFF THE PILOT DID NOT TOP OFFTHE FUEL BUT ESTIMATED 15 GALLONS ABOARD. THREE DAYS AFTER THE CRASH THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE TANK OR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO FUEL STAINS ON THE OVERTURNED FUSELAGE. THERE DID SEEM TO BE SOME EVIDENCE OF FUEL SMELL ON THE GROUND. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING TO PREVENT NORMAL OPERATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 630
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WABASH
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46992
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 680
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20942
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 N9031F
NTSB Number CHI83FET01
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 ROBINSON
Aircraft Model R-22
Aircraft Series Identifier R-22
Aircraft Serial Number 007
Certified Max Gross Weight 1300
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 20 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 804
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROTO FLITE, INCORPORATED
Aircraft Owner Street Address R. R. 3, BOX 229
Aircraft Owner City WABASH
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46992
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RONALD A. DEHAVEN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 13174 SOUTH 300 W
Operator City HUNTINGTON
Operator State IN
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 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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --