Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dummerston, Vermont
Sunday, December 18, 1983 11:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT INITIATED A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION FROM ABOUT 600 FT AGL. AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 55 KTS WITH LOW M/R RPM DUE TO LOW GROSS WEIGHT. A MODERATE FLARE WAS INITIATED IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE ROTOR RPM, REDUCING THE AIRSPEED TO 40 KTS. HOWEVER, THE APPLICATION OF COLLECTIVE FAILED TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE & THE T/R STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO VIBRATE. WHEN THE T/R STRUCK, ABOUT 6 INCHES OF ONE TIP BROKE CAUSING MORE VIBRATION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TOLAND THE HELICOPTER, BUT DRIVE TO THE T/R CEASED TO RESPOND, & THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT. THE LEFT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND & COLLAPSED, & THE MAST ASSEMBLY WAS PROJECTED THROUGH THE CANOPY BUBBLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/18/1983
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1125
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DUMMERSTON
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 12
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
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 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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2264
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22604
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48316
NTSB Number NYC84LA055
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 47-G3B1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47-G3B1
Aircraft Serial Number 3628
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 8 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 34
Airframe Hours 5681
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCENIC ROTORS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RFD 4, BOX 1
Aircraft Owner City WESTBRATTLEBORO
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05301
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 None
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 WESTBRATTLEBORO
Departure State VT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 --