Cypress (Closed) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houston, Texas 77373
Monday, April 26, 1982 15:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO PRACTICE MANEUVERS IN PREPARATION FOR A PART 135 CHECK RIDE. THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATIONS TO A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 5 FT AG. HE REPORTED THAT ON HIS FOURTH AUTOROTATION, THE ENGINE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED THE POWER RECOVERY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER FELL THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND LANDED HARD. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL AND POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR WERE REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE GOVERNOR WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT REVEALED THE PX TRIM BLEED PART WAS OVERSIZE. THE SPECIFICATION CALLED FOR A SIZE #64 TO #68 PART, BUT A #61 PART WAS INSTALLED. ALSO, THERE WAS SOME WEAR ON THE BELLOWS. ACCORDING TO BENDIX CORP, THE OVERSIZE PART AND WEAR WOULD HAVE LEANED THE MIXTURE, BUT WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE POWER LOSS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HOUSTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77373
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CYPRESS (CLOSED)
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1545
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 Unknown
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) 73
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 325
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2377
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5784Y
NTSB Number FTW82DA150
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 AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS-350D
Aircraft Series Identifier AS-350D
Aircraft Serial Number 1424
Certified Max Gross Weight 4300
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 80
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR-OP, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20803 STUBNER AIRLINE
Aircraft Owner City SPRING
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77373
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR-OP, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 20803 STUBNER AIRLINE
Operator City SPRING
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77373
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HOUSTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HOUSTON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --