Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peach Springs, Arizona 86434
Thursday, February 24, 1983 13:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER THE ROTORCRAFT TOOK OFF TO A HOVER THE PILOT DID A PEDAL TURN FOR A DOWN CANYON DEPARTURE. AFTER THE HOVER TURN THE PILOT SLID TO THE RIGHT TO CLEAR SOME OBSTACLES AND WHEN THE ROTORCRAFT MOVED LATERALLY ABOUT 25 FEET THE PILOT HEARD A BANG. THE LEFT PEDAL WAS SLACKED AND THE ROTORCRAFT BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT CAME TO REST 10 DEGREES NOSE DOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR SHAFT ASSEMBLY FAILED BETWEEN NUMBER 3 AND 4 HANGER BEARINGS. THE NUTS THAT HOLD EACH ASSEMBLY TOGETHER WERE MISSING. THE BOLTS WERE NOT SHEARED. ONE WAS FOUND IN THE ROCKS BELOW THE TAIL ROTOR. THE OTHER WAS STILL IN PLACE. NO NUTS WERE FOUND AT THE CRASH SCENE. THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED BLUE DOTS WERE MISSING WHEN THE NEW NUTS WERE REPLACED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/1983
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PEACH SPRINGS
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86434
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 2
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 135
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 165
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20325
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3898Y
NTSB Number LAX83LA117
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model BH 206-L111
Aircraft Series Identifier BH 206-L11
Aircraft Serial Number 51024
Certified Max Gross Weight 4150
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 10 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 335
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THE HELICOPTER COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address THREE PARK CENTRAL #1045
Aircraft Owner City DENVER
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80202
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ENERGY FUELS NUCLEAR, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 1320
Operator City KANAB
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84741
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SAVANIC MINE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CUNNINGHAM MINE
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --