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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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June 23, 1982 · S N I A S SA-330J · N3601U

Hyannis, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 23, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (13 uninjured)
Location
Hyannis, MA
Aircraft
S N I A S SA-330J
Tail Number
N3601U
Operator
Petroleum Helicopters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC82FNA17

The pilot reported that he took off, and during a climb through about 800 ft, he heard a loud snap and immediately felt severe lateral vibrations. He declared an emergency and landed without further incident. An investigation revealed that the inboard trailing ear of the main rotor sleeve/spindle assembly, PN 330A31-002607, for the blue blade, had failed. Evidence of fatigue was found over most of the fracture surface and evidence of fretting corrosion was found at the origin of the fatigue. Also, an area of fretting corrosion was found on the trailing side flange of the hinge pin, on a surface clamped by the torque of the hinge pin nut. Records showed that the Aerospatiale Service Bulletin 01.35 had been complied with on 3/30/82, and that the hinge pin had been replaced on 4/10/82, about 100 flight hours before the failure. A spot check of the maintenance facility revealed that 2 out of 3 torque wrenches were overdue a calibration check. The third provided 54 inch lbs when set for 120.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF, AND DURING A CLIMB THROUGH ABOUT 800 FT, HE HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND IMMEDIATELY FELT SEVERE LATERAL VIBRATIONS. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE INBOARD TRAILING EAR OF THE MAIN ROTOR SLEEVE/SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, PN 330A31-002607, FOR THE BLUE BLADE, HAD FAILED. EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE WAS FOUND OVER MOST OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE AND EVIDENCE OF FRETTING CORROSION WAS FOUND AT THE ORIGIN OF THE FATIGUE. ALSO, AN AREA OF FRETTING CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE TRAILING SIDE FLANGE OF THE HINGE PIN, ON A SURFACE CLAMPED BY THE TORQUE OF THE HINGE PIN NUT. RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE AEROSPATIALE SERVICE BULLETIN 01.35 HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH ON 3/30/82, AND THAT THE HINGE PIN HAD BEEN REPLACED ON 4/10/82, ABOUT 100 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE FAILURE. A SPOT CHECK OF THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY REVEALED THAT 2 OUT OF 3 TORQUE WRENCHES WERE OVERDUE A CALIBRATION CHECK. THE THIRD PROVIDED 54 INCH LBS WHEN SET FOR 120.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:10 EDT
Nearest AirportBarnstable Municipal (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftS N I A S SA-330J
Tail NumberN3601U
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPetroleum Helicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · IVC · Turboshaft · 1170
Seats19

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (13 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured13
Total13
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data