Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arvin, California 93241
Saturday, August 15, 1992 6:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. WHILE EXECUTING THE PROCEDURE TURNAROUND, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TENSION TORSION PIN FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THIS PART HAS A LIFE LIMIT OF 643 HOURS. THE FAILED PIN ACCRUED 641.5 HOURS. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXECUTE AN AUTOROTATION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE TENSION TORSION BAR PIN DUE TO FATIGUE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE PILOT TO FLARE THE HELICOPTER ON LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 615
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ARVIN
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93241
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 456
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47919
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9753C
NTSB Number LAX92LA349
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HILLER
Aircraft Model UH12-E, SALOY CONVER
Aircraft Series Identifier UH12-E, SA
Aircraft Serial Number 2340
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 323
Airframe Hours 6352
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAN JOAQUIN HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 422
Aircraft Owner City DELANO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93215
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAN JOAQUIN HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 422
Operator City DELANO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93215
Operator Code CUFG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 609
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --