Sikorsky 58H accident near Corsicana, Texas, June 20, 1991
On June 20, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Sikorsky 58H (helicopter), registered N4582B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corsicana, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE MAGNETO. FACTORS WERE THE HELICOPTER'S POSITION OVER WATER, THE TAILWIND, AND THE INADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corsicana, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky 58H
- Registration
- N4582B · registry record · serial 14-8079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER A LAKE WHEN AN ENGINE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND MANEUVERED DOWNWIND TOWARD THE SHORE LINE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED, PENETRATING THE FUSELAGE. ENGINE EXAMINATION SHOWED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MAGNETO. IT HAD RECENTLY UNDERGONE REPAIR AND INSPECTION AT AN ENGINE SHOP.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,112 hours in all; 3,360 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820-84C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQZ Mesquite TX at 8:45 pm
- Destination: SPX Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.