ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 362963
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| Date: | Wednesday 9 September 1992 |
| Time: | 11:10 LT |
| Type: |  Hughes 369D |
| Owner/operator: | Eberle, Terrance |
| Registration: | N8697F |
| MSN: | 1170221D |
| Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3527 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Nunavaugaluk Lk, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Crystal Cr Lodg, AK |
| Kokwok River, AK | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 1,000 FT AGL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AIRFRAME VIBRATION AND A GRINDING SOUND. HE ENTERED AUTOROTATION, AND AT 200 FT AGL THE TAIL ROTOR AND PART OF THE T/R GEAR BOX SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER. IT THEN ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 720 DEG AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. ONE OF THE T/R BLADES WAS MISSING THE ABRASION STRIP. AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD) & SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) WERE IN EFFECT DIRECTING INSTALLATION OF RIVETS WITHIN 300 HRS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE LOSS OF TAILROTOR CONTROL. DUE TO SEASONAL USE, HELICOPTER HAD LESS THAN 160 HRS SINCE ISSUANCE OF THE AD. TAIL ROTOR BLADE FOUND INTACT WAS 40% DEBONDED, BUT WOULD PASS A 'TAP TEST' IAW MANUFACTURER'S SB. FAILED BLADE ESTIMATED TO BE 90% DEBONDED. DAILY VISUAL INSPECTION REQUIRED BY SB REPORTEDLY DID NOT DETECT DEBONDING IN PROGRESS.
Probable Cause: THE SEPARATION OF THE TAIL ROTOR ABRASION STRIP AND THE SUBSEQUENT TOTAL LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INSUFFICIENT MANUFACTURER'S MAINTENANCE DESIGN CHANGES, INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER AND INSUFFICIENT STANDARDS OF THE FAA CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ANC92FA159
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Mar-2024 12:05 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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