- Date
- May 4, 1982, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Otsego, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N16861Sikorsky S-55B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820504013849A
- Case key
- 72120
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 was spreading fertilizer by using external buckets. As he was unhooking a bucket, the engine lost power. He did a hovering autorotation, but the helicopter settled on a bucket, tipped over and allowed the main rotor blades to hit the ground. An examination revealed that the engine had mechanical continuity and the fuel system was clean and working properly. However, evidence of arcing was found in the magneto switch case. Also, signs were found that indicated moisture had been present in the switch. Reportedly, the engine operated normally after the switch was replaced.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16861
- Reported as
- Sikorsky S-55B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 55-729
- Airframe hours
- 4,675
- Engine
- Wright C7BA, 800 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 137
- Operator
- Harral Helicopter
- Registered owner
- Harral Helicopter
- Departed
- Otsego, OH
- Destination
- Otsego, OH
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,300 total · 1,032 in this make and model · 3,182 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 172 °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 N16861 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.