Lakeland Linder Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeland, Florida 33801
Tuesady, April 3, 2001 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

This was the first flight following a maintenance inspection. The pilot followed the manufacturers normal operating checklist and began a test flight. Approximately 2 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power and quit. The fuel valve switch was found in the OFF position. The pilot did not check the position of the fuel valve prior to takeoff. The thru-flight checklist did not mention a fuel switch check during engine start. An expanded checklist includes the item.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THE HELICOPTER CHECKLIST

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LAKELAND
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33801
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport LAKELAND LINDER REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 120
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID LAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 120
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10218
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office ORLANDO FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N921MC
NTSB Number ATL01LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model OH-58A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 72-21260
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 3 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 3270
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT DELVALLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3134 SATURN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BROOKSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34604
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LAL
Departure City LAKELAND
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City LAKELAND
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 5 2001 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --