ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30521
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| Date: | Tuesday 1 June 1999 |
| Time: | 14:48 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 206B JetRanger |
| Owner/operator: | Chevron Usa, Inc. |
| Registration: | N7131U |
| MSN: | 4111 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1990 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6464 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250C-20J |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Venice, Lousiana -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | West Delta 30, GM |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
About 150 feet agl and 60 knots, as the helicopter was accelerating, the pilot heard a loud 'bang,' and the low rotor rpm and engine out audio warning activated. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a grassy area, 'flared the aircraft, and placed it in six to eight inches of water.' A main rotor blade contacted the tailboom, partially separating it aft of the horizontal stabilizer. A passenger reported that the pilot 'pulled pitch right before the landing and we landed with one medium bump and then followed very quickly with another medium bump with a loud sound with it.' The passenger further reported that the landing attitude was 'relatively normal;' however, 'it was possibly a little more pitched up than normal.' An examination of the engine revealed that the Spur Adapter Gearshaft was fractured at the forward splines. According to the engine manufacturer's metallurgist, 'severe spline wear led to [the] spiral fatigue failure of the Spur Adapter Gearshaft and Compressor Adapter Coupling.' The reason for the spline wear was not determined.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper touchdown procedure, resulting in a main rotor blade contacting the tailboom. Factors were the soft and wet terrain conditions, and the loss of engine power due to the spiral fatigue failure of the gas generator turbine shafting due to spline wear.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW99LA155
FAA register: NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X18991&key=1
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7131U
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 09-Apr-2015 22:21 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2017 08:27 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 08-Apr-2024 05:46 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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