# NTSB CHI84LA362: Brantly Helicopter B-2, N5983X, Michigan City, IN, August 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 1984, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Michigan City, IN
- Coordinates: 41.710586, -86.870048 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7106&lon=-86.8700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12752
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12752/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA362

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - complacency, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

THE ENGINE QUIT AS A RESULT OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. TWENTY OUNCES OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE TANK. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FLYING ON THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL GAGE WHICH INDICATED THREE EIGHTS OF A TANK REMAINED. AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED, BUT THE LANDING SKID CAUGHT ON FARM EQUIPMENT AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5983X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Brantly Helicopter B-2
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 127
- Airframe hours: 768
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William E. Blair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LA PORTE, IN
- Destination: MGC, MICHIGAN CITY, IN
- Airport: MGC, Michigan City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 529 total, 116 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19840826043489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840826043489A), Aug 26, 1984: Hynes B2, Michigan City, IN, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel. Struck a obstacle during the autorotation forced landing. Gyroplane then rolled over.

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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