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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 18, 1983 · Aerospatiale AS-350D · N36062

Venice, LA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 18, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Venice, LA
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS-350D
Tail Number
N36062
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW83FA238

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SWAMP WITH LOW ROTOR RPM AFTER A FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY GEARBOX POWER OUTPUT GEAR. THE PILOT RADIOED AN EMERGENCY CALL SAYING HE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND WAS LANDING. A FEW SECONDS LATER, HE RADIOED THAT HE WAS CRASHING. RESCUE ACFT FOUND THE HELICOPTER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE PARTIALLY IN WATER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THEFAILED GEAR BOX RESULTED IN LOW ROTOR SPEED WHICH WAS NOT RECOVERED DUE TO LACK OF ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER TURBINE OUTPUT (PTO) GEAR, PN 4-081-044-15, FAILED FROM LOW STRESS, HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE ORIGINATED AT A POINT WERE REHARDENING BURNS CAUSED BY GRINDING WERE PRESENT. THIS GRINDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE GEAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN CARBURIZED. THE PROCEDURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO CARBURIZATION WHEN THE MATERIAL SURFACE WAS MUCH SOFTER & LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO GRINDING BURNS.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SWAMP WITH LOW ROTOR RPM AFTER A FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY GEARBOX POWER OUTPUT GEAR. THE PILOT RADIOED AN EMERGENCY CALL SAYING HE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND WAS LANDING. A FEW SECONDS LATER, HE RADIOED THAT HE WAS CRASHING. RESCUE ACFT FOUND THE HELICOPTER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE PARTIALLY IN WATER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THEFAILED GEAR BOX RESULTED IN LOW ROTOR SPEED WHICH WAS NOT RECOVERED DUE TO LACK OF ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER TURBINE OUTPUT (PTO) GEAR, PN 4-081-044-15, FAILED FROM LOW STRESS, HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE ORIGINATED AT A POINT WERE REHARDENING BURNS CAUSED BY GRINDING WERE PRESENT. THIS GRINDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE GEAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN CARBURIZED. THE PROCEDURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO CARBURIZATION WHEN THE MATERIAL SURFACE WAS MUCH SOFTER & LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO GRINDING BURNS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:56 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale AS-350D
Tail NumberN36062
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTS-101-600A2 · Turboshaft
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 9000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data