Accident Agusta A109 N57BL, Wednesday 12 September 1984

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Date:	Wednesday 12 September 1984
Time:	16:20 LT
Type:	Agusta A109
Owner/operator:	Popeye's Famous Fried Chicken
Registration:	N57BL
MSN:	7199
Total airframe hrs:	583 hours
Engine model:	Allison 250-C20B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Clifton, AZ - United States of America
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Silver City, NM (KSVC)
Destination airport:	Scottsdale, AZ (KSDL)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE LANDED FIRMLY ON THE GROUND AT THE MAIN RAMP & WENT INTO THE 2 MIN COOL DOWN MODE FOR ENG SHUTDOWN. HE STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE POWER LEVERS WERE RETARDED TO IDLE, HE FELT A SLIGHT LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROLS WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY AN ACCELERATED LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE HELICOPTER. HE STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER THEN WENT INTO A VIOLENT LATERAL & FORWARD VIBRATION. HE SHUT OFF THE ENG & APPLIED THE ROTOR BRAKE. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE VIBRATION STOPPED, THE TAILROTOR ASSEMBLY HIT THE GROUND & THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE VIBRATION OR GROUND RESONANCE.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: