- Date
- August 2, 1982, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dothan, AL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N79SWHiller UH12D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820802034529A
- Case key
- 70495
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot calculated his fuel for the flight and determined it adequate for the flight. He drained the fuel sump while the crew was loading fungicide at the loading area. After the spraying was completed, the pilot started his return flight and when over a swampy stand of trees the engine quit. He autorotated to a forced landing into the trees. Investigation revealed the fuel drain valve was open and the fuel tanks contained slightly over a gallon of fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N79SW
- Reported as
- Hiller UH12D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1136
- Airframe hours
- 9,418
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1C, 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 137
- Operator
- James A. Granquist/Bay Helicop
- Registered owner
- Aaa Helicopter Svc. Inc.
- Departed
- Dothan, AL
- Destination
- Dothan, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 1,750 total · 300 in this make and model · 1,455 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 198 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N79SW · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.