Sikorsky UH34J accident near Carrabelle, Florida, December 10, 1984
On December 10, 1984 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Sikorsky UH34J (helicopter), registered N4556D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrabelle, Florida. It was a business flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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
- December 10, 1984 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Carrabelle, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky UH34J
- Registration
- N4556D · no longer on the register · serial 145668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS CONDUCTING EXTERNAL LOAD LOGGING OPERATIONS IN A HOVER AT APRX 175 FT AGL WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG RAN INTERMITTENTLY WITH BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE BEFORE THE ENG FAILED TOTALLY. THE AUTOROTATION LANDING WAS MADE INTO A CREEK IN 5-6 FT DEEP WATER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE DESTROYED AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,445 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 17,445 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright 1820-84 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Carrabelle FL at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from PFN
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.
Other NTSB records under N4556D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.