Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee 37379
Saturday, March 31, 1990 13:38 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT OBSERVED DECREASING ENGINE AND ROTOR RPM. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, BUT THE RPM DID NOT RETURN. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. AN INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE COLLECTIVE PITCH PUSH ROD (ADJUSTABLE) HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE LAST RECORDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON FEBRUARY 22, 1988, MORE THAN TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER WITH A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND WAS CARRYING PASSENGERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FATIGUE INDUCED FAILURE OF THE COLLECTIVE PITCH PUSH ROD (ADJUSTABLE) DURING FLIGHT, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROVIDE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPEREINCE AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN REQUIRED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1338
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SODDY-DAISY
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37379
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
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 1350 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 195
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1404
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1525
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42717
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94496
NTSB Number ATL90FA089
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 HILLER
Aircraft Model UH-12D
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-12D
Aircraft Serial Number 1341
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 6125
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STANFIELD, GLENDA P.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1222 THRASHER PIKE, PO BOX863
Aircraft Owner City HIXSON
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37343
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City HIXSON
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1337
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --