ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 37488
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| Date: | Saturday 31 July 1993 |
| Time: | 14:49 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 |
| Owner/operator: | Benjamin F. Venti, Sr. |
| Registration: | N445RH |
| MSN: | 005 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1993 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 174 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-F1B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | El Monte Airport, El Monte, California -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | (KEMT) |
| (KEMT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED IN THE HELICOPTER FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 19. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 50 KNOTS AND CLIMBED TO BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THEY SAID IT THEN SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN, ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, AND CRASHED ON THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT IT HAD IMPACTED IN ABOUT A 35 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND A 30 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POST IMPACT FIRE; MANY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE FOUND FRACTURED AND/OR FIRE DAMAGED. THIS INCLUDED A FRACTURE AT THE LOWER END OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL (STICK) ASSEMBLY. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THIS FRACTURE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE. THE HELICOPTER, WHICH HAD BEEN CERTIFICATED IN DECEMBER 1992, HAD ACCUMULATED 174 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE BEING MANUFACTURED.
Probable Cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL (STICK) ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CYCLIC (PITCH & ROLL) CONTROL.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX93FA311
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=445RH
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 25-Jul-2016 15:45 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-Aug-2016 17:57 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 10-Apr-2024 12:04 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
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