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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 7, 1988 · Bell 222UT · N3190K

Cameron, LA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
August 7, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Cameron, LA
Aircraft
Bell 222UT
Tail Number
N3190K
Operator
Petroleum Helicopters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW88IA145

PLT stated that the ACFT pitched 20 deg nose down without warning while in cruise FLT at 1,200' and 120 kts. Following recovery, the ACFT required additional RT pedal to stay in trim and it flew about 10 deg nosed down in lvl FLT. FLT diverted to the OPR's base and landed successfully. Examination revealed that the RT horz stab had separated just outboard of the tailboom. Metallurgical examination of the separation revealed multiple fatigue origins in the areas of both the forward and aft top spar cap rivet holes and that the crack in the aft spar had been present for some time. Previous failures in this area had been attributed to working rivets causing stress concentrations in the rivet holes. Prevention of this type failure is effected by replacing the affected rivets in a timely manner. Maintenance records revealed that the left horizontal stabilizer had been repaired on 3 prior occasions, but there were no records of repairs on the RT stabilizer.

Full Narrative

PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT PITCHED 20 DEG NOSE DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 1,200' AND 120 KTS. FOLLOWING RECOVERY, THE ACFT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL RT PEDAL TO STAY IN TRIM AND IT FLEW ABOUT 10 DEG NOSED DOWN IN LVL FLT. FLT DIVERTED TO THE OPR'S BASE AND LANDED SUCCESSFULLY. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE RT HORZ STAB HAD SEPARATED JUST OUTBOARD OF THE TAILBOOM. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATION REVEALED MULTIPLE FATIGUE ORIGINS IN THE AREAS OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND AFT TOP SPAR CAP RIVET HOLES AND THAT THE CRACK IN THE AFT SPAR HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SOME TIME. PREVIOUS FAILURES IN THIS AREA HAD BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO WORKING RIVETS CAUSING STRESS CONCENTRATIONS IN THE RIVET HOLES. PREVENTION OF THIS TYPE FAILURE IS EFFECTED BY REPLACING THE AFFECTED RIVETS IN A TIMELY MANNER. MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD BEEN REPAIRED ON 3 PRIOR OCCASIONS, BUT THERE WERE NO RECORDS OF REPAIRS ON THE RT STABILIZER.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:30 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 222UT
Tail NumberN3190K
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageMinor
OperatorPetroleum Helicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LT5-101-750C1 · Turboshaft · 700
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 8 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time00:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data