Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Theriot, Louisiana 70353
Monday, June 16, 1986 8:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN YAW IN THE HELICOPTER AT CRUISE FLIGHT. THE NG STARTED WINDING DOWN CONFIRMING AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT HAD TO EXTEND AN AUTOROTATION OVER A TREE LINE, WHICH CAUSED THE RPM TO DECREASE, AND MADE A HARD LANDING IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER INCLUDED THE TAIL SECTION, LANDING GEAR AND MAIN ROTOR. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT BOTH THE GEAR SPUR COMPRESOR SHAFT AND THE GEAR SPUR ACCESSORY DRIVE WERE MISSING TEETH. THE INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED THAT METAL FRAGMENTS FROM THE GEARS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE'S LUBRICATION SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/1986
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City THERIOT
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70353
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 6
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 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 30000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
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) --
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 --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1087
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31429
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N229EH
NTSB Number FTW86LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS35OD
Aircraft Series Identifier AS35OD
Aircraft Serial Number 1227
Certified Max Gross Weight 4188
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 13 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 2278
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ENERGY HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 401 GLYNN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City HOUMA
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70363
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HUM
Departure City HOUMA
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 840
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --