Sikorsky H-19-UH19D accident near Mcclusky, North Dakota, June 18, 1991
On June 18, 1991 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Sikorsky H-19-UH19D (helicopter), registered N6735, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcclusky, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BLOWER/SUPERCHARGER ASSEMBLY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: NO SUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1991 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mcclusky, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky H-19-UH19D
- Registration
- N6735 · no longer on the register · serial 54-1416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS MAKING A SPRAY RUN ALONG A CANAL APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET BELOW GROUND LEVEL. HE BEGAN TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CANAL. HE LOST ALL POWER AS HE CLEARED THE CANAL EDGE AND MADE A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM ON LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE BLOWER/SUPERCHARGER SEAL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1990; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.