Sikorsky H-19A accident near Croom, Florida, April 21, 1982
On April 21, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Sikorsky H-19A (helicopter), registered N15185, was substantially damaged in an accident near Croom, Florida. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 21, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Croom, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky H-19A
- Registration
- N15185 · no longer on the register · serial 514277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS SPRAYING ABOUT 15 FT OVER A LAKE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND DITCHED THE HELICOPTER IN THE LAKE. AFTER RECOVERY FROM THE LAKE, A CHECK OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PRECRASH FAILURES.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,156 hours in all; 1,196 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 5,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,586 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Star Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Silver Lake FL at 3:40 pm
- Destination: Silver Lake FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 192°F (89°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.