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November 4, 1986 · Sikorsky S-58ET · N4247S

Becker, MN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 4, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Becker, MN
Aircraft
Sikorsky S-58ET
Tail Number
N4247S
Operator
Helicopter
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI87FA015

THE HELICOPTER (HEL) WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPN TO PSN A 2500 LB VENTILATOR TO THE ROOF OF A BLDG. ON THE NEXT TO LAST LOAD, THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE NOTED A MOMENTARY ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL BYPASS ADVISORY LIGHT. HE ELECTED TO CONT THE OPN & RETURNED TO THE STAGING AREA TO PICK UP THE 2500 LB LOAD. WHEN THE LOAD WAS APRX 8' FM THE ROOF TOP, WITNESSES NOTED THE LOAD (& HEL) BGN TO SETTLE. THE PLT RLSD THE LOAD AS THE ROTOR RPM BGN DECREASING & MNVRD AWAY FM THE ROOF. THE HEL HOVERED MOMENTARILY OVR AN ELEVATED CONVEYOR, THEN THERE WAS AN ADNL LOSS OF RPM. AS THE HEL DSCNDD, THE MAIN & TAIL ROTORS HIT THE CONVEYOR & THE HEL FELL APRX 150' & CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE FWD FUEL BLADDERSPLIT OPEN DRG IMPACT. THE AFT FUEL BLADDER CONTAINED A USABLE, BUT UNDETERMINED, AMOUNT OF FUEL. DIRT WAS FND IN THE FUEL BLADDERS & FUEL FILTERS, BUT NO FUEL BLOCKAGE WAS NOTED. FUEL X-FEED SELECTOR & VLV WERE FND IN THE OPEN PSN. THE FLT MANUAL LIMITS THE USE OF X-FEED FOR EMERGENCY & CRUISE FLT ONLY; BOOST PUMP MUST BE ON WHEN UNUSED TANK IS EMPTY.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER (HEL) WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPN TO PSN A 2500 LB VENTILATOR TO THE ROOF OF A BLDG. ON THE NEXT TO LAST LOAD, THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE NOTED A MOMENTARY ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL BYPASS ADVISORY LIGHT. HE ELECTED TO CONT THE OPN & RETURNED TO THE STAGING AREA TO PICK UP THE 2500 LB LOAD. WHEN THE LOAD WAS APRX 8' FM THE ROOF TOP, WITNESSES NOTED THE LOAD (& HEL) BGN TO SETTLE. THE PLT RLSD THE LOAD AS THE ROTOR RPM BGN DECREASING & MNVRD AWAY FM THE ROOF. THE HEL HOVERED MOMENTARILY OVR AN ELEVATED CONVEYOR, THEN THERE WAS AN ADNL LOSS OF RPM. AS THE HEL DSCNDD, THE MAIN & TAIL ROTORS HIT THE CONVEYOR & THE HEL FELL APRX 150' & CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE FWD FUEL BLADDERSPLIT OPEN DRG IMPACT. THE AFT FUEL BLADDER CONTAINED A USABLE, BUT UNDETERMINED, AMOUNT OF FUEL. DIRT WAS FND IN THE FUEL BLADDERS & FUEL FILTERS, BUT NO FUEL BLOCKAGE WAS NOTED. FUEL X-FEED SELECTOR & VLV WERE FND IN THE OPEN PSN. THE FLT MANUAL LIMITS THE USE OF X-FEED FOR EMERGENCY & CRUISE FLT ONLY; BOOST PUMP MUST BE ON WHEN UNUSED TANK IS EMPTY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:45 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSikorsky S-58ET
Tail NumberN4247S
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHelicopter
Operating RulePart 133
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6T-6 · Turboshaft · 970
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 8 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data