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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 28, 1989 · Aerospatiale AS-350D · N132SH

Blanchard, ID

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1989
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Blanchard, ID
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS-350D
Tail Number
N132SH
Operator
Heartflite
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN89FA202

THE EMERG MED SVC (EMS/MEDEVAC) HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE WITH A PLT, 2 MED PSNL & A PATIENT. THE PATIENT (A FUGITIVE WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND) WAS HANDCUFFED TO THE STRETCHER. DRG FLT, THE PLT RPRTD A PROBLEM WITH THE PATIENT & REQUESTED POLICE ASSISTANCE DRG ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL. THE PLT THEN TRANSMITTED AN EXPLETIVE & RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT. WRECKAGE WAS FOUND OVER A 1 MI AREA WITH EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT BREAKUP & MAIN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE COCKPIT & TAIL CONE. INV SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SWASHPLATE BRG SEIZURE. THE PITCH CHG LINK RODS & ROTATIONAL SCISSORS WERE BRKN IN THEDRCTN OF MAIN ROTOR ROTATION & CTC MARKS WERE FND ON THE FWD EARS OF THE ROTATING SWASHPLATE LUGS. DISASSEMBLY REVEALED FAILURE OF THE INNER & OUTER RACE LOCKS & SPALLING OF THE BRG RACES. LACK OF GREASE WAS NOTED IN THE BRG & THE BALL BRGSWERE DISCOLORED BLUE. WEAR MARKS ON THE BALL BRGS INDCD SCUFFING; 1 BALL BRG WAS FLUTED. THE BRG ASSEMBLY HAD ACCRUED 1.23 HRS OF OPN SINCE THE LAST 100 HR INSPN. LUBE REQUIRED EACH 400 HRS, COMPANY POLICY WAS TO LUBE AT 100 HR INTERVALS.

NTSB Probable Cause

OVERHEATING AND SEIZURE OF THE SWASHPLATE BEARING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE HELICOPTER AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

Full Narrative

THE EMERG MED SVC (EMS/MEDEVAC) HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE WITH A PLT, 2 MED PSNL & A PATIENT. THE PATIENT (A FUGITIVE WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND) WAS HANDCUFFED TO THE STRETCHER. DRG FLT, THE PLT RPRTD A PROBLEM WITH THE PATIENT & REQUESTED POLICE ASSISTANCE DRG ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL. THE PLT THEN TRANSMITTED AN EXPLETIVE & RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT. WRECKAGE WAS FOUND OVER A 1 MI AREA WITH EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT BREAKUP & MAIN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE COCKPIT & TAIL CONE. INV SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SWASHPLATE BRG SEIZURE. THE PITCH CHG LINK RODS & ROTATIONAL SCISSORS WERE BRKN IN THEDRCTN OF MAIN ROTOR ROTATION & CTC MARKS WERE FND ON THE FWD EARS OF THE ROTATING SWASHPLATE LUGS. DISASSEMBLY REVEALED FAILURE OF THE INNER & OUTER RACE LOCKS & SPALLING OF THE BRG RACES. LACK OF GREASE WAS NOTED IN THE BRG & THE BALL BRGSWERE DISCOLORED BLUE. WEAR MARKS ON THE BALL BRGS INDCD SCUFFING; 1 BALL BRG WAS FLUTED. THE BRG ASSEMBLY HAD ACCRUED 1.23 HRS OF OPN SINCE THE LAST 100 HR INSPN. LUBE REQUIRED EACH 400 HRS, COMPANY POLICY WAS TO LUBE AT 100 HR INTERVALS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:04 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale AS-350D
Tail NumberN132SH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHeartflite
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTS-101-600A2 · Turboshaft · 531
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 50
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time04:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data