20110725020449A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Sikorsky UH-34D · Wilton, IA · July 25, 2011

Date: July 25, 2011 · 11:33 local
Place: Wilton, IA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: Z5NG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3880J
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN11FA507
Reported as: Sikorsky UH-34D
Reported engine: WRIGHT R-1820 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 12,000 total

N3880JRegistration cancelled Mar 19, 2013 · Sikorsky UH-34DS/N 148821 Airframe modelSikorsky UH-34D Engine modelWright R-1820 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot had just taken on 150 gallons of fuel and 250 gallons of chemical. As he started his spray run, the aircraft descended into some trees and caught fire. Witnesses confirm the flight path. One witness stated that he heard the engine pop just prior to the aircraft going down. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. Destruction of the aircraft was too extensive to make a determination if the engine was running at the time of descent.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT HAD JUST TAKEN ON 150 GALLONS OF FUEL AND 250 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL.AS HE STARTED HIS SPRAY RUN, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO SOME TREES AND CAUGHT FIRE. WITNESSES CONFIRM THE FLIGHT PATH. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE POP JUST PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT GOING DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO EXTENSIVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IF THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF DESCENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN11FA507Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWilton, IAThe inadequate performance planning by the pilot that resulted in reduced climb capability while transitioning to an out-of-ground effect hover with a left pedal turn.Jul 25, 2011 · Substantial damage