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NTSB Report
April 22, 1982 · Bell 212 · N5752W
Intracoastal Ci, LA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 22, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury), 9 uninjured
Location
Intracoastal Ci, LA
Aircraft
Bell 212
Tail Number
N5752W
Operator
Rotor-Aids
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82FA145
The helicopter was in cruise flight when a sudden and severe right yaw occurred. Subsequently, it was autorotated to a ditching in rough water. Touchdown was made on top of a wave, then the helicopter rolled over. The survivors did not get the raft out. Another helicopter arrived but could not land in the rough sea. A life raft was dropped, but it was blown downwind by the time a survivor (the copilot) swam to it and got it inflated. The copilot was unable to paddle against the wind to the other survivors. The helicopter sank before a rescue boat arrived. However, it was recovered later. An investigation revealed that the female portion of a tail rotor coupling, PN 204-040-604-5, had failed due to lack of lubrication. The proper type of lubricant had been used. An exam of the coupling seal, PN 204-040-611-1, revealed tears and a circumferential cut, .14 to .16 inch long. Grease was found throughout the cut area. The helicopter had accumulated 1226 hrs total time and 376 hrs since overhaul.
Full Narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN A SUDDEN AND SEVERE RIGHT YAW OCCURRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WAS AUTOROTATED TO A DITCHING IN ROUGH WATER. TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE ON TOP OF A WAVE, THEN THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE SURVIVORS DID NOT GET THE RAFT OUT. ANOTHER HELICOPTER ARRIVED BUT COULD NOT LAND IN THE ROUGH SEA. A LIFE RAFT WAS DROPPED, BUT IT WAS BLOWN DOWNWIND BY THE TIME A SURVIVOR (THE COPILOT) SWAM TO IT AND GOT IT INFLATED. THE COPILOT WAS UNABLE TO PADDLE AGAINST THE WIND TO THE OTHER SURVIVORS. THE HELICOPTER SANK BEFORE A RESCUE BOAT ARRIVED. HOWEVER, IT WAS RECOVERED, LATER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FEMALE PORTION OF A TAIL ROTOR COUPLING, PN 204-040-604-5, HAD FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE PROPER TYPE OF LUBRICANT HAD BEEN USED. AN EXAM OF THE COUPLING SEAL, PN 204-040-611-1, REVEALED TEARS AND A CIRCUMFERENTIAL CUT, .14 TO .16 INCH LONG. GREASE WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CUT AREA. THE HELICOPTER HAD ACCUMULATED 1226 HRS TOTAL TIME AND 376 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:07 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBell 212
Tail NumberN5752W
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRotor-Aids
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsP & W · PT6T3-3B-6 · Turboshaft · 900
Seats15
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury), 9 uninjured
Fatal2
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured9
Total12
Crew 1Age 59 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 30 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg