Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

East Bernstadt, Kentucky 40729
Friday, September 25, 1992 12:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A LOW ALTITUDE POWERLINE PATROL WHEN IT DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH UPSLOPING TERRAIN. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CLUTCH SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED, INVOLVING THE ASSEMBLY RETAINER END WHICH SEPARATED. THE RETAINER WALL WAS SEVERELY WORN WHERE THE SEPARATION OCCURRED. THE ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONS TO ENGAGE THE BELT DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH IN TURNS TRANSMITS ENGINE POWER TO THE MAIN TRANSMISSION. THE HELICOPTER HAD OVER 11,000 HOUR OF TOTAL TIME. THE LAST INSPECTION OF THE ASSEMBLY WAS ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER, DURING A 100 HOUR INSPECTION. A REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED NO PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION INVOLVING FAILURE TO DETECT WEAR OF THE CLUTCH SPRING ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN THE UNCOUPLING OF ENGINE POWER TO THE MAIN TRANSMISSION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/25/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EAST BERNSTADT
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40729
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 175
Weather Observation Facility ID LOZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1895
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1048
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 25 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9609F
NTSB Number BFO92FA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier 269C
Aircraft Serial Number 700017
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 11072
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HELICOPTERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOWMAN FIELD
Aircraft Owner City LOUISVILLE
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40205
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOWMAN FIELD
Operator City LOUISVILLE
Operator State KY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 40205
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WINCHESTER
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --