ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 147612
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| Date: | Sunday 12 August 2012 |
| Time: | 13:00 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 407 |
| Owner/operator: | Universal Helicopters |
| Registration: | C-FTJU |
| MSN: | 53331 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1998 |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C47B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Elephant Head, 5 mi S of Wabush, NL -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | External load operation |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | TSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On August 12, 2012, a Bell 407 helicopter was slinging a drill tower approximately 4 NM southwest of Wabush, N.L. While approaching the drill base frame, the helicopter lost engine power, then immediately descended and yawed to the left. The pilot released the drill tower before the helicopter struck the terrain. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the aircraft. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and the 406-megahertz emergency locator transmitter activated as a result of the impact. There was no post-crash fire.
Findings as to causes and contributing factors
1. The third-stage turbine wheel failed due to the overstress extension of high-cycle fatigue cracks in the blade trailing edges in a manner consistent with a known pattern, resulting in a loss of engine power.
2. The engine power loss occurred at an altitude from which a safe landing could not be assured, resulting in minor injury and substantial helicopter damage.
Findings as to risk:
1. Rolls-Royce Corporation has not been able to specifically identify what engine operating condition, or conditions cause the tensile residual stresses to be induced at the blade hub trailing edges. As a result there is a continued possibility of engine failure, in turn increasing the risk of injury and helicopter damage.
2. When there is a delay in carrying out the required actions to maintain rotor speed following an engine power loss, there is an increased risk of injury and helicopter damage.
3. When helicopter pilots do not wear flight helmets, they are at a higher risk of head injuries incurred in a crash.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
http://metronews.ca/news/canada/334783/man-survives-helicopter-crash-in-labrador/
http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2012-08-13/article-3051261/UPDATE%3A-Loss-of-power-believed-to-have-caused-helicopter-crash-in-Wabush/1
http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/ca-publications/ASL_3_2014.pdf
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 25 September 2015 | C-FTJU | Universal Helicopters | 0 | 100NM SE GOOSE BAY | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Aug-2012 05:39 | gerard57 | Added |
| 13-Aug-2012 13:10 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Source] |
| 02-Mar-2013 15:24 | TB | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Mar-2013 10:51 | TB | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Location, Damage] |
| 30-Dec-2014 15:22 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 25-Oct-2023 16:03 | harro | Updated [[Time, Nature, Source, Narrative]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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