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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 22, 1982 · Kaman HH-43F · N4524

Sutherlin, OR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 22, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Sutherlin, OR
Aircraft
Kaman HH-43F
Tail Number
N4524
Operator
Donald Lederhos
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA82FYK08

The helicopter was being used on a logging operation. After releasing a load from a hover out of ground effect, the pilot began to turn and accelerate. About two-thirds to three-fourths of the way through a 180 degree turn, the aircraft began a sudden, very violent, rapid vibration. The pilot recalled being thrashed about while the helicopter rolled to the right and crashed. An investigation revealed that one of the right rotor blades had failed. A 9.5 ft section of the outboard leading edge along with approximately a 3.5 ft piece of the blade tip had separated. They were found about 1/4 mile from the main wreckage. An examination of the blade revealed that the stainless steel conductor strip, PN K711583-11, had been pulled loose from the bolt which held it on the top side of the blade. The bottom bolt hole was elongated and the bottom of the strip was stretched. The paint showed whip marks radiating out from the inboard attach point. A nearby tree had no evidence of rotor contact.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON A LOGGING OPERATION. AFTER RELEASING A LOAD FROM A HOVER OUT OF GROUND EFFECT, THE PILOT BEGAN TO TURN AND ACCELERATE. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS TO THREE-FOURTHS OF THE WAY THROUGH A 180 DEGREE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SUDDEN, VERY VIOLENT, RAPID VIBRATION. THE PILOT RECALLED BEING THRASHED ABOUT WHILE THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE RIGHT ROTOR BLADES HAD FAILED. A 9.5 FT SECTION OF THE OUTBOARD LEADING EDGE ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY A 3.5 FT PIECE OF THE BLADE TIP HAD SEPARATED. THEY WERE FOUND ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE BLADE REVEALED THAT THE STAINLESS STEEL CONDUCTOR STRIP, PN K711583-11, HAD BEEN PULLED LOOSE FROM THE BOLT WHICH HELD IT ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE BLADE. THE BOTTOM BOLT HOLE WAS ELONGATED AND THE BOTTOM OF THE STRIP WAS STRETCHED. THE PAINT SHOWED WHIP MARKS RADIATING OUT FROM THE INBOARD ATTACH POINT. A NEARBY TREE HAD NO EVIDENCE OF ROTOR CONTACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftKaman HH-43F
Tail NumberN4524
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDonald Lederhos
Operating RulePart 133
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · T-53-L-11-D · Turboshaft
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data