Arapahoe County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nr. Englewood, Colorado 80112
Tuesady, October 5, 1982 8:47 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PILOT WAS PRACTICING MANEUVERS FOR CERTIFICATION TEST. HE SAID HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO SUSPECTED ENGINE TROUBLE AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE AIRCRAFT IN THE GRASS. HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT BUT LEFT BATTERY AND RADIO ON. THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDED REFERENCES TO SABOTAGE FROM A FORMER EMPLOYER, TO ARSON BY THE PILOT. PILOT WAS GIVEN A LIE DETECTION TEST WHICH DID NOT CLEAR HIM. PILOT HAD ALSO LEFT EMERGENCY FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE OPEN. PILOT WAS TESTED IN THE ARSON INVESTIGATION BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN OVERHEARD IN REMARKS "ITS OKAY IF IT BURNS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF INSURANCE" AND "THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO A HELICOPTER IS THAT IT BURN ITSELF UP". NO EVIDENCE WAS RECEIVED FOR IGNITION SOURCE OR FUEL SOURCE BECAUSE OF CONDITION OF WRECKAGE. SOME OF THE PERTINENT VALVES AND LINES WERE DESTROYED. BOTH FUELTANKS WERE INTACT BUT EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 847
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City NR. ENGLEWOOD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80112
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID APA
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 Partial - limited by briefer
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 61
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2894
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 N204Z
NTSB Number DEN83LA002
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47G3B
Aircraft Series Identifier 47G3B
Aircraft Serial Number 3449
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 3
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 140
Airframe Hours 16085
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FALCON LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6868 S.REVERE PKY.
Aircraft Owner City ENGLEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80112
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ENERGY AIR, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6868 S. REVERE PWY.
Operator City ENGLEWOOD
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80112
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code C
Departure City ENGLEWOOD
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code C
Destination City ENGLEWOOD
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --