Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Juneau, Alaska 99802
Monday, May 21, 1990 16:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WHILE AT A HIGH HOVER WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD OF LOGS. THE ACFT BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND WHILE IN A SPIN. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A FRACTURE OF THE NO. 3 SEGMENT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 SEGMENT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1605
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City JUNEAU
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99802
Event Date Year 1990
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 NONE
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1645 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID JNU
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1216
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42578
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94495
NTSB Number SEA90LA083
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-58D
Aircraft Series Identifier S-58D
Aircraft Serial Number 58-730
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 11 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 5605
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALASKA SKYCRANES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 34899
Operator City JUNEAU
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99803
Operator Code YASL
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone ADT
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 Hover
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --