Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Annette Bay, Alaska 99901
Thursday, June 17, 1993 18:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS TAIL ROTOR STRIKE AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS INSPECTED. THE ADAPTER ON TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT NUMBER 4 DEBONDED AND ROTATED ON THE SHAFT. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED DEBONDING BUT THE MODE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO ROTATIONAL DAMAGE. OTHER SHAFT ADAPTERS SHOWED DEBONDING AND WERE CAUSED BY PLASTIC BLASTING. THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE CALLS FOR INSPECTIONS ON THE SHAFT USING MAGNETIC PARTICLE OR FLUORESCENT PENETRANT METHODS AND DOES NOT CALL FOR PLASTIC MEDIUM BLASTING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT COUPLING AND THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AFTER THE FIRST TAIL ROTOR STRIKE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANNETTE BAY
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99901
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1800
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2059
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1415
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21424
NTSB Number ANC93LA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model B-3
Aircraft Series Identifier B-3
Aircraft Serial Number 3466
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 9850
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84601
Operator Code ZRHL
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? Yes
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --