Rialto Munic. Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rialto, California 92376
Monday, July 31, 1989 13:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER. WHEN THE POWER RECOVERY WAS ATTEMPTED, THE ENGINE RESPONDED TO THE THROTTLE APPLICATION BUT THE LOW RPM WARNING HORN ACTIVATED AND THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO SEVER THE TAILBOOM. EXAMINATION OF THE HIGH SPEED OUTPUT DRIVESHAFT COUPLING, TRANSMISSION END, SHOWED THAT THE FOUR BOLTS WERE INSTALLED BUT THE FOUR NUTS AND FOUR WASHERS COULD NOT BE FOUND IN THE ASSEMBLY. TWO NUTS WERE FOUND IN THE SCUPPER DRAIN OF THE TRANSMISSION DECK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE TO INSTALL TWO OF THE FOUR REQUIRED NUTS WHICH RETAIN THE HIGH SPEED COUPLING INPUT DRIVE SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1335
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City RIALTO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92376
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RIALTO MUNIC. ARPT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L67
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1450
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
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) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 584
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1435
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40023
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:52PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10857
NTSB Number LAX89LA253
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 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 2974
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 20 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2688
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CALIFORNIA AMERICAN RESEARCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1971 A AVIATOIN DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City CORONA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91720
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CA. AMER. RESEARCH INFORMATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1554 NORTH LINDEN AVE
Operator City RIALTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92376
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 1230
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Landing
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 --