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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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September 5, 1983 · Bell 205A-1 · N58034

Elk Rock, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 5, 1983
Injury Outcomes
12 injuries (7 serious injuries, 5 minor injuries)
Location
Elk Rock, WA
Aircraft
Bell 205A-1
Tail Number
N58034
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA83FA198

THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 800 FT AGL, WHEN THE PLT NOTED A SEVERE SHUDDER & VIBRATION. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, THEN NOTICED THAT THE N2 & ROTOR RPM WERE PEGGED AT 110%. AS HE REAPPLIED THE COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE OVERSPEED, HE NOTED A LOSS OF THRUST & BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. THE ONLY SUITABLE AREA OF LAND WAS ON A MUD FLOWN. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO TURN INTO THE WIND IN THE LANDING AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, DOWNWIND, ON ROUGH TERRAIN. A DISASSEMBLY & EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT BEARING (#21), PN 1-300-082-01, AND THE N2 TACHOMETER DRIVE SPUR GEAR, PN 1-070-062-04, HAD FAILED. FATIGUE WAS FOUND ON THE SPUR GEAR.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 800 FT AGL, WHEN THE PLT NOTED A SEVERE SHUDDER & VIBRATION. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, THEN NOTICED THAT THE N2 & ROTOR RPM WERE PEGGED AT 110%. AS HE REAPPLIED THE COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE OVERSPEED, HE NOTED A LOSS OF THRUST & BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. THE ONLY SUITABLE AREA OF LAND WAS ON A MUD FLOWN. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO TURN INTO THE WIND IN THE LANDING AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, DOWNWIND, ON ROUGH TERRAIN. A DISASSEMBLY & EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT BEARING (#21), PN 1-300-082-01, AND THE N2 TACHOMETER DRIVE SPUR GEAR, PN 1-070-062-04, HAD FAILED. FATIGUE WAS FOUND ON THE SPUR GEAR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:10 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 205A-1
Tail NumberN58034
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · T53-13B · Turboshaft · 1250
Seats15

People & Injuries

Injury Summary12 injuries (7 serious injuries, 5 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious7
Minor5
Uninjured0
Total12
Crew 1Age 35 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 11 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data