Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Adams, Michigan 49262
Thursday, January 16, 1986 14:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ACCOMPLISHING PREFLIGHT SYSTEMS CHECKS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE ROTOR SYSTEM ENGAGED THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC HARDOVER. UNCOMMANDED DISPLACEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH UP AND LEFT SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. TESTING OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TEARDOWN INSPECTION REVEALED FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/16/1986
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1405
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NORTH ADAMS
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49262
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 16 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1425
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31780
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N885
NTSB Number CHI86LA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
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-58F
Aircraft Series Identifier S-58F
Aircraft Serial Number 58396
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 9 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 7614
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name B & G HELICOPTER CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4150 BROADMOOR S.E.
Aircraft Owner City GRAND RAPIDS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49508
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
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 1405
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 Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --