ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 364025
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| Date: | Tuesday 4 February 1992 |
| Time: | 11:30 LT |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-55B |
| Owner/operator: | Avag Corporation |
| Registration: | N1033 |
| MSN: | 1328 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5616 hours |
| Engine model: | CURTIS WRIGHT R-1300 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Richvale, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
AS THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING REFUELED IN PREPARATION FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS IN THE HELICOPTER AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE ROTATING AT 'FLIGHT RPM.' ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY 'JUMPED ABOUT TWO FEET IN THE AIR AND AT THE SAME TIME ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND MOVED FORWARD.' THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE FUEL TRUCK AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER'S STRUCTURE REVEALED THAT THE LATERAL CONTROL ARM COMPONENT IN THE CYCLIC CONTROL SYSTEM HAD FRACTURED AT A TAPER PIN HOLE. THEREAFTER, THE DISCONNECTED CYCLIC CONTROL SYSTEM PERMITTED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO TILT DOWN, AND THE ROLL OVER WAS UNAVOIDABLE. NO PRE-EXISTING DEFECT WAS REPORTED OBSERVED IN THE LATERAL CONTROL ARM WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED, ABOUT 14 OPERATIONAL HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Probable Cause: THE FAILURE OF THE LATERAL CONTROL ARM IN THE CYCLIC CONTROL SYSTEM.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX92LA108
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Mar-2024 08:39 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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