# Accident 20030704013239A: Orlhel UH19DSKRSKY, La Grande, OR, July 4, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2003, 08:50 local time
- Place: La Grande, OR
- Airport: La Grande/Union County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: V6CG
- Location: 45.3167° N, 117.8667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3167&lon=-117.8667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N37799, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37799-2005-10-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky UH-19D (registry code 814161G, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-uh-19d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Wright R-1300 series (registry code 67060, https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ORLHEL UH19DSKRSKY
- Reported engine: WRIGHT R13003
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total, 460 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA125) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030704013239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 4, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 0850 PDT, N37799, A SIKORSKY H-19, WAS APPLYING FUNGICIDE TO A POTATO FIELD AND HAD JUST COMPLETED A RUN AND WAS HALFWAY THROUGH 180 DEGREES TURN TO START ANOTHER RUN WHEN THE PILOT HEARD SEVERAL CLANKING NOISES AND NOTICED A LOSS OF LIFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW AND TOO SLOW FOR AN AUTOROTATION AND STILL CARRIED HALF A TANK OF FUNGICIDE. THE PILOT STATED HE STILL HAD DIRECTIONAL CONTROL SO HE AIMED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE CORNER OF THE FIELD, HE GLIDED OVER THE HIGHWAY (237) AND FIRST HIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND WAS ON FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN HIT THE GROUND AGAIN, RESTING ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS BURNING VERY GOOD NOW AND EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT JUMPED TO THE GROUND AND RAN AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 SEA03LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA125), Jul 4, 2003: Sikorsky UH-19D (N37799), La Grande, OR, destroyed. Probable cause: The cross threading and separation of the clutch assembly while maneuvering which resulted in a loss of engine power followed by a hard landing. An inadequate maintenance overhaul was a factor.

## Other reports on N37799 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19830803038669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830803038669A), Aug 3, 1983: Orlhel UH19DSKRSKY (N37799), Halifax, MA, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during autorotation landing after engine quit due to exhaust valve breaking.

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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