- Date
- July 29, 1992, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Adjuntas, PR
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8476EBell 47J2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920729027999A
- Case key
- 32991
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 failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain adequate rotor RPM during a precautionary landing following the loss of engine oil. In addition, the pilot failed to insure that the engine contained adequate oil, and that the oil dip stick was secure prior to takeoff. A factor which contributed to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to marijuana.
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
Witnesses observed the helicopter, and then a loud bang was heard & the engine was no longer audible. The helicopter immediately made a turn to the left & descended. As it approached the ground, the engine noise increased. The helicopter impacted hard on top of a hill. Post-crash examination indicated that the engine and transmission oil tank and engine oil system contained 2 qts of oil. The turn-to-lock type oil stick was not locked, and oil residue was visible exiting the filler neck and flowing out of the engine compartment and down the tail boom. No oil leakage was found on the ground at the crash site. The day before the accident, an FAA inspector had noted oil leakage in and around the helicopter's engine compartment. Toxicology tests results on the pilot was positive for for 0.010 ug/ml (blood-tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid) marijuana, one passenger was positive for 0.038 ug/ml (blood) marijuana, and another passenger was positive for 2.4 mcg/ml (urine) diphenhydramine or benadryl.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8476E
- Reported as
- Bell 47J2
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1837
- Airframe hours
- 7,732
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-540-B1B3, 305 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Western Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Western Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 13, 1992 · 29 hours before
- Departed
- ABO · Arecibo, PR
- Destination
- PSE · Ponce, PR
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
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,078 total · 355 in this make and model · 904 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PSE, 25 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.