Serious incident Bell 212 N5017H,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 370379
 
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Date:Wednesday 3 December 2003
Time:09:25 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic B212 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Bell 212
Owner/operator:Evergreen Helicopters International, Inc.
Registration: N5017H
MSN: 30930
Total airframe hrs:10799 hours
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney PW PT6-3
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 11
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Serious incident
Location:Galliano, LA -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Unknown
Departure airport:SS358
Destination airport:Fourchon, LA (OLS2)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The airline transport-rated pilot executed a precautionary landing following an uncommanded right yaw and in-flight control anomalies. The operator reported that approximately 35 minutes into flight, the aircraft suddenly yawed "violently" to the right with slight nose tuck. The tail rotor pedals were simultaneously driven to near full right position. The co-pilot immediately reduced collective and IAS, corrected with left pedal while canceling the Flight Director. The aircraft oscillated twice at medium intensity and relatively small magnitude. Control of the aircraft was then passed to the pilot-in-command who reestablished straight and level flight at reduced power, with full right pedal required. Cruise power at this time was approximately 60 percent. The crew reviewed the prescribed emergency procedures and notified company dispatch. In-flight troubleshooting revealed no remedial effect from securing one or both Helipilot SAS systems. Hydraulic systems not cycled, but pressure was noted as "normal" on both systems. Hydraulic boost to pedals appeared "normal." Slight left pedal input confirmed tail rotor control input. Controlled slow flight ability was confirmed down to 40 knots with resultant increasing right yaw. The 12,900-hour pilot executed a normal approach, touched down at 25 to 30 knots, and controlled the yaw with the collective and throttle. Examination of the aircraft by the operator revealed that the upper/left bolt that secures the tail rotor pitch control bellcrank support was bent and loose in the nutplate. The lower/left bolt had sheared just below the bolt head, and the lower/right bolt was sheared in the threaded area in the nutplate. Control movement was checked with no binding, lost motion or unusual noises. No additional anomalies were noted in the tail rotor control system.

Probable Cause: The loss of tail rotor control due to sheared, loose, and bent bolts which secured the tail rotor pitch control bellcrank support bracket.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: FTW04IA077
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 7 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB FTW04IA077

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
26 June 2001 N5017H State Of Alaska, Division Of Forestry 0 Clear, AK sub
15 July 2002 N5017H State Of Alaska 0 Wasilla, Alaska sub

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
25-Mar-2024 10:02 ASN Update Bot Added

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