- Date
- April 3, 1998, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wewahitchka, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N508DDBell 205
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980403009429A
- Case key
- 38487
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 loss of control as a result of erratic flight control movement due to a surge in hydraulic pressure for undetermined reasons.
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 pilot was about to start agricultural operations, and had turned on the fertilizer bucket, when he reported that the hydraulic gauges started to 'surge.' He said the helicopter, '...then took a violent turn to the left...the helicopter jerked for a third time and came back level.' He released the fertilizer bucket, and elected to make a forced landing. He stated, '...the control was going left to right, the collective was not reacting properly, so I spooled off the throttle and landed in the trees.' Examination of the helicopter's hydraulic system after the accident revealed that impact damage had destroyed the servos and the hydraulic fluid reservoir. No discrepancies were found with the hydraulic system.
Factual narrative
On April 3, 1998, about 0830 central standard time, a Bell UH-1H (205) helicopter, N508DD, registered to Precision Air Services, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 133, agricultural flight, impacted with trees during a forced landing near Wewahitchka, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight had originated at 0800.
The pilot was about to start agricultural operations, and had turned on the fertilizer bucket, when he reported that the hydraulic gauges started to "surge." He said the helicopter, "...then took a violent turn to the left...the helicopter jerked for a third time and came back level." He released the fertilizer bucket, and elected to make a forced landing. He stated, "...the control was going left to right, the collective was not reacting properly, so I spooled off the throttle and landed in the trees."
Examination of the helicopter's hydraulic system after the accident revealed that impact damage had destroyed the servos and the hydraulic fluid reservoir. No discrepancies were found with the hydraulic system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N508DD
- Reported as
- Bell 205
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 67-17678
- Engine
- Lycoming T53-L-13BA, 1,300 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 133
- Registered owner
- Presision Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,000 total · 500 in this make and model · 11,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.