Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waterford, Wisconsin 53185
Monday, May 22, 1989 9:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND DURING ATTEMPTED AUTOROTATION CONTROL WAS LOST. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE TRAIN TORSIONAL COUPLING HAD FAILED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING ATTEMPT FOLLOWING THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE TRAIN TORSIONAL COUPLING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WATERFORD
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53185
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 688
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 23 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40062
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3829
NTSB Number CHI89DEP04
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-12E
Aircraft Series Identifier UH-12E
Aircraft Serial Number 1425
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 64
Airframe Hours 5851
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JON MAR LEASING CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2518 N 82ND ST.
Aircraft Owner City WAUWATOSA
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53213
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name A.I.R. HELICOPTER SERVICE, INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2414 WAUWATOSA AVENUE
Operator City WAUWATOSA
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53213
Operator Code PEQA
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WATERFORD
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Descent
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 --