- Date
- March 8, 1987, 12:11 local (20:11 UTC)
- Place
- Delano, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N99232Hiller OH-23G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870308005529A
- Case key
- 25324
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
During an aerial application flight, the pilot returned to the loading truck for approximately 5 additional gallons of chemical to finish the application. The loader; however, loaded 70 gallons and when the pilot took off the rotor RPM began to bleed off. The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to reland on the truck by backing the helicopter. He overshot the landing area and collided with nearby trees. Investigation revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99232
- Reported as
- Hiller OH-23G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1616
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-C1A, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- San Joaquin Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,700 total · 1,600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.