ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 285583
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 16 September 2008 |
| Time: | 17:43 LT |
| Type: | Hiller UH-12E Soloy |
| Owner/operator: | Summit Helicopters Inc. |
| Registration: | N3324F |
| MSN: | 1735 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9529 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Naruna, Virginia -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Naruna, VA |
| Naruna, VA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While in straight and level flight, the pilot indicated that the helicopter began a "violent horizontal circular shake or wobble," and the main rotor rpm and began to decrease. The pilot entered an autorotation, turned the helicopter to the left to avoid trees, and touched down. During the forced landing, the tail rotor contacted the ground, and after the engine had been shut down, one of the main rotor blades contacted the tailboom. Post accident examination revealed that a main rotor blade drag strut had failed at the inboard threaded portion of the strut. Further examination revealed that a vibro-peen marked serial number was visible on the failed drag strut and that the drag strut had failed due to fatigue cracking that emanated from the root portion of the threads. The helicopter's maintenance records listed the failed drag strut as being a part number that should have had a life limit of 2,500 hours, but failed at 2,236 hours. Contrary to the helicopter manufacturer's drawings, there was no part number on the failed drag strut, which put into doubt the actual hours of operation on the part.
Probable Cause: The fatigue failure of a main rotor blade drag strut.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC08LA318
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 15 September 1983 | N3324F | Private | 0 | Cape Yakataga, AK | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Oct-2022 11:54 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation