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NTSB Report
October 27, 1989 · Hughes 369D · N9163F
Neah Bay, WA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 27, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Neah Bay, WA
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N9163F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA90LA010
DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE PILOT HAD JUST RELEASED THE LOAD AND WAS TRANSITIONING TO A CLIMB ATTITUDE WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED INTO THE ROUGH TERRAIN. THE GEARBOX WAS METALLURGICALLY EXAMINED, REVEALING THAT ALL FOUR ATTACHMENT STUDS HAD FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED CONTAMINANTS ON THE GEARBOX MOUNTING PADS BETWEEN THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND THE TAIL BOOM; FRETTING WAS NOTED. AD88-17-09 AND SERVICE INFORMATION NOTICE DN-151/EN-39/FN-28 BOTH MANDATE INITIAL AND RECURRENT INSPECTION (EVERY FLIGHT) OF THE GEARBOX ATTACHMENT AREA.
NTSB Probable Cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF ALL FOUR ATTACHMENT STUDS OF THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE GEAR BOX, AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION.
Full Narrative
DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE PILOT HAD JUST RELEASED THE LOAD AND WAS TRANSITIONING TO A CLIMB ATTITUDE WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED INTO THE ROUGH TERRAIN. THE GEARBOX WAS METALLURGICALLY EXAMINED, REVEALING THAT ALL FOUR ATTACHMENT STUDS HAD FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED CONTAMINANTS ON THE GEARBOX MOUNTING PADS BETWEEN THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND THE TAIL BOOM; FRETTING WAS NOTED. AD88-17-09 AND SERVICE INFORMATION NOTICE DN-151/EN-39/FN-28 BOTH MANDATE INITIAL AND RECURRENT INSPECTION (EVERY FLIGHT) OF THE GEARBOX ATTACHMENT AREA.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN9163F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 133
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 375
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO