# Accident 19980421013329A: Kaman K1200, La Grande, OR, April 21, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 1998, 10:30 local time
- Place: La Grande, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: GZ9L
- Location: 45.3194° N, 118.1991° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3194&lon=-118.1991&mi=10
- Aircraft: N224GM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N224GM-1998-10-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kaman Aerospace K-1200 (registry code 13027LS, https://openairdocs.org/model/kaman-aerospace-k-1200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KAMAN K1200
- Reported engine: LYC T5317A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,250 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980421013329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACCIDENTLY TURNED OFF FUEL SWITCH INSTEAD OF PARTICLE SEPERATOR ON CLIMBOUT. SWITCHES CLOSE TOGETHER. POOR DESIGN. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE PARTICLE SEPARATOR OFF ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, HE IMMEDIATELY GOT A LOW FUEL PRESSURE INDICATION AND THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER.  THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND ROLLED ON ITS SIDE IN THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT STATED HE BELIEVED HE HAD INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH TO OFF, RATHER THAN THE PARTICLE SEPARATOR SWITCH.  THESE TWO ON-OFF SWITCHES ARE SEPARATED BY ABOUT 2 INCHES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND BOTH ACTUATE ON AND OFF IN A COMMON DIRECTION AND ALONG A COMMON AXIS; THE SWITCHES DIFFER BY SHAPE ONLY.  IN A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION, INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE FUEL/OIL SWITCH OFF AND THE ADJACENT PART SEP SWITCH ON.  NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE WAS REPORTED.  THE K-1200 RECEIVED NORMAL-CATEGORY FAA TYPE CERTIFICATION IN AUGUST 1994.  FAA AIRWORTHINESS STANDARDS FOR TYPE CERTIFICATION OF NORMAL-CATEGORY ROTORCRAFT (CONTAINED IN 14 CFR 27) REQUIRE COCKPIT CONTROLS TO BE 'LOCATED TO...PR                                   EVENT CONFUSION AND INADVERTENT OPERATION', AS WELL AS 'MEANS TO GUARD AGAINST INADVERTENT OPERATION OF EACH SHUTOFF.' (-23)SAFTEY RECOMMENDATION TO BE SUMITTED REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SHUT-OFF SWITCH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA065), Apr 21, 1998: Kaman K-1200 (N224GM), La Grande, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent shutdown of the engine with the FUEL/OIL shutoff switch. Contributing to the accident were: the manufacturer's inadequate location and design of the FUEL/OIL shutoff switch;…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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