Kaman K600-3 accident near Lodi, California, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Kaman K600-3 (helicopter), registered N87842, was destroyed in an accident near Lodi, California (Kingdon Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
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
- May 29, 1982 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · Kingdon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman K600-3
- Registration
- N87842 · no longer on the register · serial 218
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER STARTED VIBRATING IN FLIGHT, AND WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT FOR A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A CORNFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AT TOUCHDOWN. THE RIGHT BLADE FLAP ASSEMBLY HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT AND COULD NOT BE FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all; 547 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 4,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,364 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,150 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming T53-L9 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Sck CA at 7:45 am
- Destination: C Bonners Ferry ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 140°F (60°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.