General Information

Data Source:                          NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
   Report Number:                        CHI93LA013 
   Local Date:                           10/21/1992
   Local Time:                           19:05 CDT
   State:                                ND    
   City:                                 GRAND FORKS                        
   Airport Name:                                                  
   Airport Id:                                 
   Event Type:                           ACCIDENT
   Injury Severity:                      NONE   
   Report Status:                        FINAL      
   Mid Air Collision:                    NO 

Operations Information

Category of Operation:                GENERAL AVIATION       
   Aircraft Type:                        HELICOPTER     
   Aircraft Damage:                      SUBSTANTIAL      
   Phase of Flight:                      570 LANDING                                           
   Aircraft Make/Model:                                                  
   Operator Doing Business As:                                         
   Operator Name:                        UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA    
   Operator Code:                            
   Operator:                                                                       
   Owner Name:                           UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA    

Narrative

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN DUSK/BRIGHT NIGHT 
   CONDITIONS. HE REPORTED HE HAD THE LANDING LIGHT, POSITION AND 
   ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS ON, AND "COULD SEE PRETTY GOOD IN A CONFINED AREA 
   THAT I HAD BEEN IN MANY TIMES." AFTER SOME MANEUVERING, THE PILOT 
   DECIDED TO LAND.  HE STATE D: "I DIDN'T THINK I HAD ANY LATERAL 
   MOVEMENT.  I PERCEIVED MY (ALTITUDE) TO BE APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET, I MUST 
   HAVE BEEN HIGHER.  I REMEMBER MY LEFT SKID HITTING THE GROUND THEN 
   SORT OF A TILT TO THE RIGHT.  MY RIGHT SKID CAUGHT IN SOME DIRT TO THE 
   RIGHT AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE HELICOPTER TIPPED OVER."

Sequence of Events

Occurrence #: 1  230 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
   Phase of Operation: 570 LANDING

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

   1a.   20100(S) - 2307(M)  Factor
         LIGHT CONDITION - BRIGHT NIGHT
   1b.   24567(S) - 3120(M) - 4000(P)  Factor
         TOUCHDOWN - MISJUDGED - PILOT IN COMMAND

   Occurrence #: 2  380 ROLL OVER
   Phase of Operation: 570 LANDING

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

   1b.   24566(S) - 3127(M) - 4000(P)  Cause
         AIRCRAFT CONTROL - NOT MAINTAINED - PILOT IN COMMAND

Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER D URING A 
   NIGHT LANDING.

Aircraft Information

Number of Seats:                      2  
   Aircraft Use:                         PERSONAL           
   Type of Operation:                    14 CFR 91 
   Domestic/International:                            
   Passenger/Cargo:                                        
   Registration Number:                  3625Z 
   Air Carrier Operating Certificates:   
   Aircraft Fire:                        NONE

                  Injuries
          Fatal  Serious  Minor  None
   Crew      0       0       0      1
   Pass      0       0       0      0
   Other     0       0       0      0
   Invlvd    0       0       0      1

   Landing Gear:                         SKID
   Certificated Maximum Gross Weight:    2050
   Engine Make:                          LYCOMING     
   Engine Model:                         HIO-360-D1A  
   Number of Engines:                    1 
   Engine Type:                          RECIPROCATING-FUEL INJECTED 

Environment/Operations Information

Basic Weather Conditions:             VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)  
   Wind Direction (deg):                 160
   Wind Speed (knots):                   10
   Visibility (sm):                      10
   Visibility RVR (ft):                  0
   Visibility RVV (sm):                  0
   Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 0
   Visibility Restrictions:              NONE
   Precipitation Type:                   NONE
   Light Condition:                      NIGHT (BRIGHT)
   Departure Airport Id:                 GFK 
   Departure City:                       
   Departure State:                        
   Destination Airport Id:                   
   Destination City:                     
   Destination State:                      
   Flight Plan Filed:                    NONE
   ATC Clearance:                        NONE
   VFR Approach/Landing:                 FULL STOP
   Event Location:                       OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP

Pilot-in-Command

Certificates:                         PRIVATE
   Ratings:
     Plane:                              NONE
     Non-Plane:                          HELICOPTER
     Instrument:                         NONE
   Had Current BFR:                      YES
   Months Since Last BFR:
   Medical Certificate:                  CLASS 3
   Medical Certificate Validity:         VALID MEDICAL-NO WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS

              Flight Time (Hours)
   Total       :    114  Last 24 Hrs :    2
   Make/Model  :     59  Last 30 Days:   27
   Instrument  :      4  Last 90 Days:   42
   Multi-Engine:      0  Rotorcraft  :   65