Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Keanae, Hawaii 96732
Sunday, May 5, 1991 11:29 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AN AIR TAXI SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF ALL ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE REVEALED THE FORWARD SPLINES ON THE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE WHICH RESULTED IN THE SAG BEING DISCONNECTED FORM THE DRIVE SYSTEM. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE FAILED SAG REVEALED IT CONFORMED TO ITS MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THE COMPRESSOR, AND THE SAG, WERE SUBJECT TO AN OVERHAUL 826.8 OPERATIONAL HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE TOTAL FAILURE IN FATIGUE OF THE HELICOPTER'S SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE LACK OF A SUITABLE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1129
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City KEANAE
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96732
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
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 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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 656
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44913
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9219F
NTSB Number LAX91LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369HS
Aircraft Series Identifier 369HS
Aircraft Serial Number 940638S
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GERARDIN CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 25320 BELLANCA WAY
Operator City TORRANCE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90505
Operator Code DNWA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OGG
Departure City KAHULUI
Departure State HI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone HST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OGG
Destination City KAHULUI
Destination State HI
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 --