ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30259
Last updated: 12 January 2021
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| Date: | 29-JAN-2000 |
| Time: | 15:00 |
| Type: |  Bell 212 |
| Owner/operator: | Heliqwest Aviation, Inc. |
| Registration: | N212HQ |
| C/n / msn: | 30646 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Mount Pleasant, UT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | External load operation |
| Departure airport: | 43U |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
While in level flight approximately 120 feet above ground level, carrying an external load of logs, the main rotor mast separated from the helicopter. The fuselage descended into a tree covered slope and broke into three sections. The pilot received serious injuries. Laboratory examination of the main rotor mast provided evidence the mast failed in fatigue at the lower ring groove of the damper splines where burrs were left during machining of the part. Retirement requirements for the mast were 15,000 flight hours or 300,000 RIN (retirement index number). The mast had 5,644.4 hours with the last overhaul being done at 3,660.8 hours. The FAA calculated the RIN number to be 291,065.
Probable Cause: Failure of the main rotor mast due to fatigue that resulted from inadequate quality assurance during the manufacturing process.
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X20352&key=1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Jul-2009 23:46 | harro | Updated |
| 03-Jun-2014 17:31 | TB | Updated [Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 03-Jun-2014 17:34 | TB | Updated [Operator] |
| 12-Dec-2017 18:17 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
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