- Date
- July 8, 1989, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Susanville, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6306Sikorsky S-58T
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890708066619A
- Case key
- 26469
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
The pilot's inflight decision to enter a descent when he lost yaw control of the aircraft. Turbulent weather conditions and an abrupt touchdown were factors in the accident.
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 entered an uncommanded left yaw, in an area with swirling winds, while inbound for a fire suppression water drop. The pilot dumped the water, released the bucket collective pitch and entered a descent. He was unable to stop the descent during the landing flare and the helicopter collided with the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6306
- Reported as
- Sikorsky S-58T
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 58-1491
- Engine
- P&W PT6T-6, 1,600 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Operator
- Aris Helicopters Ltd.
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
- 41
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.