Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Labelle, Florida 33935
Friday, August 26, 1983 9:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK TREES & THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PLT ESTIMATED THERE WAS 15 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD DURING THE PREFLIGHT, BUT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT VISUALLY CHECK FUEL LEVEL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE FOUND LESS THAN MINIMAL FUEL & BELIEVED THE ENG STOPPED DUE TO LACK OF FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LABELLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33935
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 On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 42
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID FMX
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
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) 2146
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22494
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 N5824
NTSB Number MIA83LA212
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 Unknown
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47J
Aircraft Series Identifier 47J
Aircraft Serial Number 1731
Certified Max Gross Weight 2565
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 11200
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DON M. GAERTNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8348 NO. 57TH DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City GLENDALE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLARENCE L. DAVIS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1 515A
Operator City LABELLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33935
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
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 22
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --