# NTSB ATL92LA166: Sikorsky UH-19D, N37800, St. Augustine, FL, August 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1992, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Location: 29.8960° N, 81.3116° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Augustine, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8960&lon=-81.3116&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8652
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8652/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA166

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, hover
  - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - seized
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE WAS BEGINNING HIS EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AND HE WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. HE STATED THAT HE LANDED HARD IN THE UNIMPROVED AREA, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE HARD LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A ROCKER ARM FAILED, RESULTING IN THE SEIZURE OF THE EXHAUST VALVE IN THE OPEN POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37800](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37800-2012-09-20), registration cancelled 2012-09-20, S/N 55-4944, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY UH-19D
- Registry model: [Sikorsky UH-19D](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-uh-19d) (registry code 814161G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright R-1300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1300-series) (registry code 67060, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 55-4944
- Engines: CURTIS WRIGHT R-1300-3 800 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Operator: Mitchell III, William L.
- Registered owner: Mitchell III, William L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 23, 1992, 1 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 75° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 30 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 19920825035679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920825035679A), Aug 25, 1992: Orlhel UH19DSKRSKY, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. At hover ready to lift logs. Engine backfired lost power. Dropped long line. Autorotated. Chopped tailboom landing.

## Other investigations on N37800 (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 ATL87LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA036), Dec 6, 1986: Sikorsky UH-19D (N37800), Roanoke Rapids, NC, substantial damage

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.

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