Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rome, Georgia 30165
Monday, October 28, 1991 14:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED TWO TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND DURING THE THIRD TAKEOFF FOR ANOTHER APPROACH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FELT A THUMP IN THE AIRFRAME. IMMEDIATELY, HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLIES WERE MISSING. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR BOTH ASSEMBLIES WERE RECOVERED THE FOLLOWING DAY, HOWEVER THE NTSB WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECOVERY. THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS WERE EXAMINED BY THE OPERATOR AND DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, ONE ROTOR BLADE FAILED IN THE VICINITY WHERE AD 59-05-10 APPLIED; THE AD REQUIRED A DAILY INSPECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES FOR CRACKS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AN INSPECTION OF THE BLADES HAD BEEN COMPLETED PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF A TAIL ROTOR BLADE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/28/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1450
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ROME
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30165
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2001
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 28 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46051
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N925V
NTSB Number ATL92LA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 47D-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 47D-1
Aircraft Serial Number 643
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3979
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEELE, DOUGLAS D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 310 LAUREL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City LAFAYETTE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30728
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SILVER HAWK AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 222 RUSSELL FIELD
Operator City ROME
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30165
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --