ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 76113
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 April 1998 |
| Time: | 11:30 LT |
| Type: |  Kaman K-1200 K-Max |
| Owner/operator: | Grizzly Mountain Aviation |
| Registration: | N224GM |
| MSN: | A94-0022 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1997 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1936 hours |
| Engine model: | Allied Signal T53-17A1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | La Grande, OR -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Starkey, OR |
| La Grande, OR | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that after takeoff, when he attempted to turn the particle separator off about 200 feet above ground level, he immediately got a low fuel pressure indication and the engine then lost power. The helicopter touched down hard and rolled on its side in the ensuing forced landing. The pilot stated he believed he had inadvertently turned the fuel shutoff switch to OFF, rather than the particle separator switch. These two on-off switches are separated by about 2 inches on the instrument panel, and both actuate on and off in a common direction and along a common axis; the switches differ by shape only. In a post-accident examination, investigators found the FUEL/OIL switch OFF and the adjacent PART SEP switch ON. No evidence of pre-existing mechanical problems with the engine was reported. The K-1200 received normal-category FAA type certification in August 1994. FAA airworthiness standards for type certification of normal-category rotorcraft (contained in 14 CFR 27) require cockpit controls to be 'located to...prevent confusion and inadvertent operation', as well as 'means to guard against inadvertent operation of each shutoff.'
Probable Cause: The pilot's inadvertent shutdown of the engine with the FUEL/OIL shutoff switch. Contributing to the accident were: the manufacturer's inadequate location and design of the FUEL/OIL shutoff switch; the FAA's inadequate determination of the type design's compliance with applicable airworthiness standards; and the helicopter's low altitude at the time of the power loss.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB SEA98LA065
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Aug-2010 08:35 | Alpine Flight | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Apr-2024 13:38 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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