Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wahpeton, North Dakota 58075
Friday, July 30, 1982 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER RECEIVING HIS LAST LOAD OF CHEMICAL, THE PILOT THOUGHT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO COMPLETE TWO SPRAY PASSES TO FINISH THE FIELD BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE FUEL TRUCK. HE COMPLETED THE PASSES, THEN PULLED TO ABOUT 150 FT AGL TO FLY ABOUT THREE MILES TO REFUEL. ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE INTENDED LANDING POINT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT 50 KIAS WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT HE ENTERED AN AUTO ROTATION, BUT WAS TOO LOW TO TURN INTO THE WIND, WHICH WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 10, GUSTING 15 KTS. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER DURING A LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WAHPETON
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58075
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
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 Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 78
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 315
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1462
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 N6704
NTSB Number DEN82DA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
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-55B
Aircraft Series Identifier S-55B
Aircraft Serial Number 55-1148
Certified Max Gross Weight 7200
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 2
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 27
Airframe Hours 6277
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL GORDER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 1
Aircraft Owner City WAHPETON
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58075
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL GORDER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RT. 1
Operator City WAHPETON
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58075
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WAHPETON
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City WAHPETON
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --