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NTSB Report
April 27, 1986 · Hiller UH12E · N5374V
Castroville, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Castroville, CA
Aircraft
Hiller UH12E
Tail Number
N5374V
Operator
Douglas E Walker
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX86FVM05
THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER AFTER THE LNDG SKID FAILED IN A FORCED LNDG. THE PLT SAID HE WAS CRUSING AT 500 FT AGL OVER AN OPEN FIELD WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY AND SPIRAL TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT LOST GROUND REFERENCE IN THE PRE-DAWN DARKNESS WHEN HE TURNED ON THE LIGHTS. NOT WANTING TO LAND TOO HARD HE ELECTED TO LEAVE THE ENG RUNNING AND NOT AUTO-ROTATE. INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE HAD SEPARATED AT THE TENSION TORSION STRAP ATTACH BOLT HOLE. THIS IS THE TRANSITION AREA WHERE THE BLADE ROOT CASTING AND SHEET METAL BLADE SKIN ARE JOINED. THE FRACTURE SURFACE OF THE CASTING APPEARED TO BE OVERLOADED WITH NO APPARENT INDICATION OF FATIGUE. THE OUTBOARD BLADE SECTION SHOWED NO INDICATION OF FOREIGN OBJECT CONTACT. ALL COMPONENTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE LOCATED IN THE IMPACT AREA EXCEPT ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER AFTER THE LNDG SKID FAILED IN A FORCED LNDG. THE PLT SAID HE WAS CRUSING AT 500 FT AGL OVER AN OPEN FIELD WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY AND SPIRAL TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT LOST GROUND REFERENCE IN THE PRE-DAWN DARKNESS WHEN HE TURNED ON THE LIGHTS. NOT WANTING TO LAND TOO HARD HE ELECTED TO LEAVE THE ENG RUNNING AND NOT AUTO-ROTATE. INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE HAD SEPARATED AT THE TENSION TORSION STRAP ATTACH BOLT HOLE. THIS IS THE TRANSITION AREA WHERE THE BLADE ROOT CASTING AND SHEET METAL BLADE SKIN ARE JOINED. THE FRACTURE SURFACE OF THE CASTING APPEARED TO BE OVERLOADED WITH NO APPARENT INDICATION OF FATIGUE. THE OUTBOARD BLADE SECTION SHOWED NO INDICATION OF FOREIGN OBJECT CONTACT. ALL COMPONENTS OF THE HELICOPTER WERE LOCATED IN THE IMPACT AREA EXCEPT ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:30 PDT
Nearest AirportSALINAS (10nm W)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftHiller UH12E
Tail NumberN5374V
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDouglas E Walker
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20 · Turboshaft · 385
Seats3
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:48
Weather SourceWFAC