Sikorsky S-58B accident near Brewster, Washington, June 24, 2012
On June 24, 2012 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58B (helicopter), registered N9043N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Brewster, Washington (Anderson Field Airport). It was an other work-use flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight fire during hover for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of fire damage that subsequently consumed the structure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2012 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brewster, Washington · Anderson Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58B · all S-58Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9043N · no longer on the register · serial 143957
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the helicopter lifted into a hover, the manifold pressure gauge indicated a significant increase and the pilot smelled smoke. The pilot set the helicopter back onto the ramp and observed smoke rolling up the side of the fuselage. He egressed the helicopter rapidly and noticed fire around the engine compartment. The magnesium-constructed airframe was subsequently consumed by fire; the origin of the fire could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command; 176 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,385 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2011; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Versatile Investments LTD
The flight
- Departed from: S97 Brewster WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: S97 Brewster WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from OMK, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR12LA292.