Serious incident Agusta A109 N4GH, Monday 30 March 1987

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Date:	Monday 30 March 1987
Time:	16:00 LT
Type:	Agusta A109
Owner/operator:	Rodgers Helicopter Service
Registration:	N4GH
MSN:	7151
Year of manufacture:	1978
Total airframe hrs:	2023 hours
Engine model:	Allison 250-C20B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	Lincoln, NE - United States of America
Phase:	Taxi
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Omaha, NE
Destination airport:	Lincoln, NE (KLNK)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PIC STATED THAT HE WAS GROUND TAXIING THE HELO TO THE RAMP AREA AT DUNCAN AVIATION TO SHUTDOWN FOR REFUELING. DURING THE TAXI, THE PIC HEARD A LOUD 'BANG' EMINATING FM THE REAR OF THE HELO. THE PIC LOWERED COLLECTIVE PITCH AND NO FURTHER NOISE WAS HEARD AND NO VIBRATION WAS FELT. THE PIC RE-APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE HELO BEGAN TO YAW AND VIBRATE. AT THIS POINT THE PIC LOWERED COLLECTIVE TO FLAT PITCH AND SHUTDOWN THE ENG. REMOVAL REVEALED A BROKEN PORTION OF THE T/R DRIVESHAFT ABOUT 1 FT FORWARD OF THE GEARBOX. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION BY THE NTSB LAB AND AN INDEPENDENT METALLURGIST CONCLUDED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED IN A MANNER CHARACTERISTIC OF TORSIONAL OVERLOAD. THE PIC STATED THAT NO CONTACT WITH THE GRND OR STATIONARY OBJECT HAD OCCURRED.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: