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| Date: | Thursday 2 September 1993 |
| Time: | 09:30 LT |
| Type: |  Bensen B8M |
| Owner/operator: | Walter Lach |
| Registration: | N8447 |
| MSN: | 1122 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 617 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental C-65 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Fall River, MA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
AS THE PILOT WAS FLARING TO LAND, THE ROTOR CONTROL ARM (CONTROL STICK) FAILED AT A LOCATION JUST ABOVE THE PILOT'S HEAD. THE GYROCOPTER THEN ROLLED OVER AND CRASHED. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE CONTROL ARM HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE ORIGINATED WHERE THE CONTROL ARM HAD BEEN CHAFED BY A LOOSE CLAMP.
Probable Cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE GYROCOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR CONTROL ARM. fACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A LOOSE CLAMP ON THE ROTOR CONTROL ARM, DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OR INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN CHAFING OF THE CONTROL ARM.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB BFO93LA149
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Mar-2024 17:52 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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