ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30304
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| Date: | Monday 20 December 1999 |
| Time: | 09:00 LT |
| Type: |  Hughes OH-6A |
| Owner/operator: | Lee County Sheriff's Dept |
| Registration: | N72LC |
| MSN: | 68-17184 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1968 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4419 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison T63-A700 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Fort Myers, FL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | , FL |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
According to witnesses, the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) helicopter flew over the landing area and was on downwind when it suddenly turned to the right, and descend at a high rate of speed, in a nose low attitude, and impact a building. Postcrash examination revealed that the lateral control rod end fitting had separated from the control rod, and the fitting's bearing did not move freely, when compared to a normal rod end bearing. In addition, the rivet that normally passes through the lateral control rod and rod end fitting was missing. Dark and white deposits were found in the threaded region of the rod and rod end fitting, and laboratory analysis of those deposits revealed that the substances were aluminum oxides. Maintenance records show that the control rod had been inspected and modified by Heli-Tech, when the helicopter was first acquired, and had been delivered to the LCSO at about 3546 total flight hours. Following receipt of the helicopter from Heli-Tech, the operator's maintenance log did not indicate any specific maintenance entries related to the control rods. At the time of the accident the helicopter had accumulated 4419.4 flight hours.
Probable Cause: improper maintenance inspection of the helicopter by unknown maintenance personnel, resulting in a worn control rod bearing being continued in service, and subsequent separation, resulting in an in-flight loss of control and a crash.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB MIA00GA057
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 15-May-2010 11:03 | JINX | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Country, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 14-Dec-2017 10:01 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 30-May-2023 01:56 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Time, Cn, Operator, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative]] |
| 07-Apr-2024 16:09 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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