Accident Hiller UH-12E Soloy N161HA,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 217251
 
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Date:Saturday 20 November 1993
Time:08:45
Type:Hiller UH-12E Soloy
Owner/operator:R AND B HELICOPTERS INC.
Registration: N161HA
MSN: HA-3061
Total airframe hrs:7725 hours
Engine model:ALLISON 250-C20
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Salinas, CA -   United States of America
Phase: Landing
Nature:Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
DURING A SWATH RUN TO APPLY A MIXTURE OF PESTICIDES, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD 'POP'. THE HELICOPTER'S COLLECTIVE CONTROL BEGAN TO OSCILLATE AND THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION. THE HELICOPTER ALSO BEGAN TO OSCILLATE AND THE PILOT SLOWED TO ABOUT 15 KNOTS AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. A SPRAY BOOM ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF FRETTING CORROSION AND A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TENSION-TORSION BAR PIN, INTO WHICH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE DRAG BRACE IS ATTACHED. A SECOND TENSION-TORSION PIN FROM A SISTER HELICOPTER WAS DISCOVERED TO ALSO HAVE CORROSION AND A FATIGUE CRACK. PINS FAILED AT 369.5 HOURS AND 489.4 HOURS RESPECTIVELY. THE RETIREMENT LIFE OF THE PIN IS 643 HOURS.

Probable Cause: a fatigue failure of the torsion-tension bar pin due to fretting corrosion. A factor in this accident was an inadequate quality of material utilized in the manufacture of the pin.

Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: LAX94LA054
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001211X13762&key=1

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Nov-2018 08:43 ASN Update Bot Added

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