Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 20, 1983 · Boeing Vertol BV-107-II · N190CH

Shaver Lake, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 20, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Shaver Lake, CA
Aircraft
Boeing Vertol BV-107-II
Tail Number
N190CH
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX83FA395

THE ONLY WITNESS, THE HOOKER, WHO GETS LOGS READY FOR TRANSPORT BY THE HELICOPTER, STATED THAT HE HEARD NOISES AND THE ROTOR BLADES BEGAN COMING APART AS THE ACFT STARTED DOWNHILL WITH A LOG. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT #3 SYCHRONIZING SHAFT (BOEING P/N 10703141-13) HAD FAILED A FATIGUE CRACK ORIGINATING AT A RIVET HOLE. THE TOTAL TIME ON THE SHAFT WAS 17492 HOURS WITH 435 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL. THE QUALITY OF THE SURFACE FINISH ON THE RIVET HOLES WAS CONSIDERED UNSATISFACTORY IN A POST ACCIDENT LABORATORY EVALUATION. AS A INTERIM MEASURE BOEING VERTOL ARBITRAILY IMPOSED A LIFE OF 8750 HOURS ON ALL SYNCHRONIZING SHAFTS OF THIS TYPE. THIS WAS BASED ON THE LIFE OF THIS FAILED PART. A PROGRAM IS ALSO BEING DEVELOPED TO DO A FLT STRAIN SURVEY ON A BV-107 FOR LOGGING OPERATIONS. THE HOOKER STATED THAT THE LOG BEING LIFTED BY THE ACCIDENT ACFT WEIGHED BETWEEN 8000 AND 9000 POUNDS.

Full Narrative

THE ONLY WITNESS, THE HOOKER, WHO GETS LOGS READY FOR TRANSPORT BY THE HELICOPTER, STATED THAT HE HEARD NOISES AND THE ROTOR BLADES BEGAN COMING APART AS THE ACFT STARTED DOWNHILL WITH A LOG. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT #3 SYCHRONIZING SHAFT (BOEING P/N 10703141-13) HAD FAILED A FATIGUE CRACK ORIGINATING AT A RIVET HOLE. THE TOTAL TIME ON THE SHAFT WAS 17492 HOURS WITH 435 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL. THE QUALITY OF THE SURFACE FINISH ON THE RIVET HOLES WAS CONSIDERED UNSATISFACTORY IN A POST ACCIDENT LABORATORY EVALUATION. AS A INTERIM MEASURE BOEING VERTOL ARBITRAILY IMPOSED A LIFE OF 8750 HOURS ON ALL SYNCHRONIZING SHAFTS OF THIS TYPE. THIS WAS BASED ON THE LIFE OF THIS FAILED PART. A PROGRAM IS ALSO BEING DEVELOPED TO DO A FLT STRAIN SURVEY ON A BV-107 FOR LOGGING OPERATIONS. THE HOOKER STATED THAT THE LOG BEING LIFTED BY THE ACCIDENT ACFT WEIGHED BETWEEN 8000 AND 9000 POUNDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:05 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing Vertol BV-107-II
Tail NumberN190CH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 133
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsGe · CT 581401A · Turboshaft · 1500
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 15 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data