Sikorsky S-55B N6704

Summary

On 30 July 1982 at about 20:30 local time, a Sikorsky S-55B registered N6704, operated by Paul Gorder, was involved in an accident near Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

30 July 1982 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States

Coordinates

46.2602, -96.5996

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-55B

Registration

N6704

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Paul Gorder

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wahpeton → Wahpeton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN82DA139

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER RECEIVING HIS LAST LOAD OF CHEMICAL, THE PILOT THOUGHT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO COMPLETE TWO SPRAY PASSES TO FINISH THE FIELD BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE FUEL TRUCK. HE COMPLETED THE PASSES, THEN PULLED TO ABOUT 150 FT AGL TO FLY ABOUT THREE MILES TO REFUEL. ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE INTENDED LANDING POINT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT 50 KIAS WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. HE STATED THAT HE ENTERED AN AUTO ROTATION, BUT WAS TOO LOW TO TURN INTO THE WIND, WHICH WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 10, GUSTING 15 KTS. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER DURING A LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.