Helicopter Pad Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coaling, Alabama 35449
Monday, June 6, 1988 19:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELO WAS APPROACHING A HELIPAD FOR LANDING AFTER THE LAST AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT OF THE DAY WHEN THERE WAS A POP AND TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WAS LOST. AFTER SEVERAL ROTATIONS ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS, THE PIC LANDED THE HELO HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE PIC/OWNER SAID THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINK BOLT AND NUT WERE ABSENT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PIC/OWNER SAID HE HAD CHANGED THE TAIL ROTOR HUB AND THE PITCH CHANGE LINKS DURING THE WINTER, ABOUT 50 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COALING
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35449
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HELICOPTER PAD
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 1850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID TCL
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1900
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1087
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37134
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N883
NTSB Number ATL88LA190
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIKORSKY
Aircraft Model S-55C
Aircraft Series Identifier S-55C
Aircraft Serial Number 551015
Certified Max Gross Weight 7200
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 Apr 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROY L MORRIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1 BOX 866
Aircraft Owner City ELMORE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36025
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MORRIS, ROY L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1 BOX 866
Operator City ELMORE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36025
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1940
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Approach
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 --