Anderson Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brewster, Washington 98812
Sunday, June 24, 2012 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the helicopter lifted into a hover, the manifold pressure gauge indicated a significant increase and the pilot smelled smoke. The pilot set the helicopter back onto the ramp and observed smoke rolling up the side of the fuselage. He egressed the helicopter rapidly and noticed fire around the engine compartment. The magnesium-constructed airframe was subsequently consumed by fire; the origin of the fire could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight fire during hover for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of fire damage that subsequently consumed the structure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Brewster
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98812
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480617N
Event Location Longitude 1194314W
Event Location Airport Anderson Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S97
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 914
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 201
Weather Observation Facility ID OMK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1305
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KOMK 241753Z AUTO 34011KT 10SM BKN090 17/13
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) 31587
NTSB Notification Source FAA OPS Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2013 5:39PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9043N
NTSB Number WPR12LA292
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-58B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 143957
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 14
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 31 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 6385
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VERSATILE INVESTMENTS LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BREWSTER
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98812-0735
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name VERSATILE INVESTMENTS LTD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BREWSTER
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98812-0735
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code S97
Departure City Brewster
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code S97
Destination City Brewster
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2013 5:39PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --