ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 137703
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| Date: | Monday 25 July 2011 |
| Time: | 11:30 |
| Type: |  Sikorsky UH-34D (S-58A) |
| Owner/operator: | Southern Helicopter Service LLC |
| Registration: | N3880J |
| MSN: | 148821 |
| Engine model: | Wright Cyclone R-1820-84C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | N of Wilton, IA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Wilton, IA |
| Wilton, IA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot flew the helicopter toward an agricultural field that was to be sprayed with fungicide. As the helicopter flew along the edge of the field, the pilot brought the helicopter into an out-of-ground-effect hover and performed a left pedal turn. The helicopter descended and impacted terrain. The helicopter was operated with a fuel grade that reduced the maximum engine power and the available climb rate for the conditions at the time of the accident. According to the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, Basic Flight Maneuvers, Hovering Turn, it states in part, "…It should be noted that during a turn to the left, more power will need to be added because left pedal pressure increases the pitch angle of the tail rotor, which, in turn, requires additional power from the engine..." It is likely that the helicopter did not have sufficient power to perform the hovering turn successfully. A postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded the helicopter's operation.
Probable Cause: The inadequate performance planning by the pilot that resulted in reduced climb capability while transitioning to an out-of-ground effect hover with a left pedal turn.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Jul-2011 23:57 | gerard57 | Added |
| 26-Jul-2011 01:42 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Source, Narrative, Plane category, ] |
| 26-Jul-2011 02:12 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 26-Jul-2011 09:02 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 26-Jul-2011 12:19 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Narrative] |
| 18-Jul-2012 09:44 | TB | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 27-Nov-2017 17:01 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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