ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 363850
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| Date: | Thursday 9 April 1992 |
| Time: | 18:00 LT |
| Type: |  Hughes 369C |
| Owner/operator: | Voyager, Inc |
| Registration: | N8311F |
| MSN: | 460806S |
| Year of manufacture: | 1976 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 11013 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pacific Ocean, PO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE HELICOPTER WAS COMPLETING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT (FISH SPOTTING) OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEAR THE ISLAND OF CANTON AND WAS LANDING ON THE SHIP'S HELIPAD. WHEN THE SKIDS TOUCHED DOWN, THE ROTOR MAST ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE ROTOR MAST BASE CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TURN TO THE LEFT 90 DEGREES. THE ROTOR MAST ASSEMBLY AND ALL ITS COMPONENTS FELL INTO THE OCEAN AND WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ABNORMAL CYCLIC MOVEMENTS OR ANY UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE. THE HELICOPTER HAD ACCRUED 328.5 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION. A 300-HOUR AND A 100-HOUR INSPECTION HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ROTOR MAST BASE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED OVERLOAD CHARACTERISTICS WITH SOME POST FRACTURE MECHANICAL SMEARING AND DAMAGE. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CORROSION OR FATIGUE WAS FOUND. THE HARDNESS MEASUREMENTS COMPLIED WITH THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS.
Probable Cause: AN UNDETERMINED FAILURE IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX92LA175
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Mar-2024 06:49 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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