Sikorsky H-19/S55 N9894
19 March 1991 · Richvale, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 19 March 1991 at about 00:30 local time, a Sikorsky H-19/S55 registered N9894, operated by Avag, Inc., was involved in an accident near Richvale, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Richvale, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.4791, -121.8399
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky H-19/S55
- Registration
- N9894
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Avag, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA137
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE KEEPER. TREES UNDER THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DISPENSING HIS 20TH LOAD OF INSECT SPRAY OVER ALMOND TREES. DURING A SWATH RUN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TREES AND THEN THE GROUND. THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 4 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE KEEPER FAILED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Sikorsky H-19 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1991 | Sikorsky H-19-UH19D | McClusky, North Dakota, United States | Shawn B. Morten | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1982 | Sikorsky H-19 | Lake Lady, Florida, United States | David Bortscheller | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1978 | Sikorsky H-19 | Gerber, California, United States | Avag, Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |