Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stayton, Oregon 97383
Wednesday, November 29, 1989 11:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE HOVERING TO PICK UP AN EXTERNAL LOAD, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ROTOR RPM AND EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH REVEALED FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH ASSY. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS OVERHAULED, THE PREVIOUS TIME WAS LISTED AS UNKNOWN. IT WAS INSTALLED ON THE ACCIDENT ACFT AND OPERATED 175 HOURS PAST MANDATORY REPLACEMENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO RECORD THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT TIME FOR THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH ON AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS WHEN THE ASSEMBLY WAS OVERHAULED. ALSO, CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE OPERATOR FOR 175 HOURS AFTER MANDATORY RETIREMENT TIME FOR THE SPRAGUE ASSEMBLY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/29/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City STAYTON
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97383
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 11
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID SLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 210
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 360
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 NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1974
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 29 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41170
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N446TN
NTSB Number SEA90LA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 1211037D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 26 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 3688
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ASSOCIATED HELICOPTER SVCS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3501 LAKEWOOD BLVD
Operator City LONGBEACH
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90808
Operator Code
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 NONE
Departure City STAYTON
Departure State OR
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 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 --