- Date
- July 13, 1988, 16:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place
- Marina Del Rey, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N94AHSikorsky S-58BT
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 12, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880713026559A
- Case key
- 25847
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Mismanagement of the fuel system by the pilot which resulted in fuel starvation and a duel engine flameout. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of total experience in the Sikorsky S58T.
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 helicopter was performing external load work to and from the roof of a 15 story condominium complex in a heavely built-up area. The pilot said that just after lifting a load from the roof he experienced a dual engine flame out and he executed an autorotation to the only available area. A Marina harbor channel. Witnesses heard a definite sound change involving both the rotor and the engine noise. Investigation revealed that the fuel system was set up to feed both engines from the aft tank. The capacitance type fuel system gages showed zero in the aft tank and 690 pounds in the foward tank. Examination of the helicopter showed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot had limited experience in the Sikorsky S58T.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N94AH
- Reported as
- Sikorsky S-58BT
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 58-692
- Airframe hours
- 7,777
- Engine
- P&W PT6-3, 900 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Operator
- Aris Helicopters, Ltd
- Registered owner
- Aris Helicopters, Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · June 2, 1988 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- LAX · Los Angeles, CA
- Destination
- LAX
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
- 37
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 11,258 total · 36 in this make and model · 11,025 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAX, 3 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.