Amateur-built 133 accident near Englewood, Colorado, November 22, 1982
On November 22, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 133 (helicopter), registered N4KF, was destroyed in an accident near Englewood, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 133
- Registration
- N4KF · registry record · serial KF001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD MODIFIED THE COWLING AND HAD ONLY COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF HIS TRAINING IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THE SCHOOL WARNED THE STUDENT NOT TO TRY ADVANCED FLYING WITHOUT MORE INSTRUCTION. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE PILOT REFUELING THE HELICOPTER WITH A PARTIALLY FILLED, 5 GAL CAN OF AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY WHEN THE PILOT BEGAN REFUELING. THEREFORE, THE WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD 5 GAL OR LESS ON BOARD WHEN IT TOOK OFF. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE ENGINE USED 8 TO 9 GAL PER HOUR. AFTER FLYING 15 TO 20 MIN, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT AND CRASHED. VIRTUALLY NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE HELICOPTER, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT FUEL HAD DRAINED OUT AT THE CRASH SITE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway 133TC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Englewood CO at 10:10 am
- Destination: Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.