ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 70870
Last updated: 14 May 2020
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| Date: | 12-JAN-2003 |
| Time: | 12:20 |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-61A (SH-3G) |
| Owner/operator: | Carson Helicopters |
| Registration: | N8170V |
| C/n / msn: | 61-232 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Glady, WV -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Glady, WV (NONE) |
| Glady, WV (NONE) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
The helicopter came out of maintenance, the captain and first officer conducted a test flight, and then ferried it to the area of operation. The next day, the captain entered a 155-foot out of ground effect hover, and an external load was connected. About the same time, the helicopter started a slow uncommanded yaw to the right. The captain applied full left pedal, released the load, and entered an autorotation. Examination of the tailrotor control system revealed that the left anti-torque control cable was broken. The break was associated with a pulley assembly, the cable strands were bent rearward, and deformed. The cable fracture surfaces were irregular, and also deformed. The associated keeper pins displayed wear marks, and light scratches consistent with control cable contact. The associated pulley was intact. The pulley channel contained an oil-based debris, and control cable fragments. Both tailrotor cables were removed and reinstalled within the last 5.3 hours of operation by company maintenance personnel.
Probable Cause: The improper installation of the left tailrotor control cable by company maintenance personnel.
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20030203X00141&key=1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Dec-2009 10:16 | TB | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 08-Dec-2017 18:01 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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