ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30172
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| Date: | Saturday 29 April 2000 |
| Time: | 18:10 |
| Type: |  Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III |
| Owner/operator: | Chevron |
| Registration: | N17237 |
| MSN: | 51478 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7785 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C30P |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Gulf of Mexico -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Salt Marsh, GM (78B) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that the helicopter lost tail rotor response while approaching an offshore platform. The pilot elected to make an autorotative emergency landing to the water. According to witnesses, the helicopter began the autorotation and proceeded to rotate to the left and 'pitch nose down.' The helicopter entered a steep descent, and the pilot reported that he could not control the helicopter. Prior to impacting the water, the helicopter assumed level flight and the emergency floats deployed. Upon impact with the water, the helicopter rolled right and came to rest inverted in the water. According to the operator's maintenance superintendent, a mechanic either omitted a bolt's cotter key or installed it improperly, which resulted in the disconnect of the tail rotor control rod assembly from the control lever located at the rear of the tail rotor gear box.
Probable Cause: The company mechanic's failure to replace the bolt's cotter key properly and the subsequent loss of the nut, which then resulted in the tail rotor control disconnection and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X20824&key=1
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=17237
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 12-Apr-2015 23:07 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 12-Apr-2015 23:07 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Total occupants] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:16 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:20 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 13-Nov-2017 09:32 | TB | Updated [Location, Source] |
| 12-Dec-2017 18:33 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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