# NTSB ATL84FA115: Sikorsky S-76A, N15479, Spartanburg, SC, March 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1984, 21:18 local (Mar 6, 1984, 02:18 UTC)
- Place: Spartanburg, SC
- Location: 34.9456° N, 81.9259° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spartanburg, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9456&lon=-81.9259&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 6 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6261/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA115

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A LANDING AT A COMPANY HELIPAD. THE WEATHER WAS IMC WITH LOW CEILINGS AND FOG. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR A VOR APPROACH MONITORED BY RADAR. THE CO-PLT SPOTTED THE PAD AND CALLED IT OUT TO THE PLT WHO STARTED A STEEP DESCENT. WHILE COMPLETING THE LANDING CHECK THE CO-PLT SENSED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OF THE ACFT AND LOOKED OUT. IT APPEARED THE ACFT WAS MOVING BACKWARD AND DOWN. HE YELLED 'WHERE ARE WE GOING?!' THE CAPTAIN ADDED POWER AS THE ACFT ENTERED THE TREES. THE NOSE AND RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED BUT THE ACFT REMAINED UPRIGHT. THE ROTOR BLADES WERE RUINED BY TREE CONTACT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15479](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15479-2006-08-15), registration cancelled 2006-08-15, S/N UC102 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A
- Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 760066
- Airframe hours: 522
- Engines: Detr. Diesel 250-C30S 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Milliken And Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 21, 1984, 19 hours before
- Departed: CUB, COLUMBIA, SC
- Destination: SPARTANBURG, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Milliken Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 12,213 total, 293 in this make and model, 11,339 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSP, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840305006019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840305006019A), Mar 5, 1984: Skrsky S76A, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. Trying to make visual to helipad below minimum weather. Pilot failed to notice attitude, backed into trees.

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

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