Mcghee Tyson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alcoa, Tennessee 37701
Monday, April 12, 1982 10:51

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE PREPARING TO LAND, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TAIL ROTOR DRIVE FAILURE AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 60 KNOTS. AT THAT SPEED, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY RIGHT TURN FROM HIS POSITION TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY. INSTEAD, HE CLIMBED ABOUT 50 FT IN A LEFT TURN TO LINE-UP FOR A RUN-ON LANDING. AS HE SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 KNOTS AT LOW ALTITUDE, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO YAW HARD TO THE LEFT. THE COLLECTIVE WAS LOWERED TO TOUCHDOWN BEFORE CONTROL WAS LOST. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED AND ROTATED ABOUT 90 DEGREES BEFORE COMING TO REST. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 4 TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT BEARING, PN 6007-2RS1MT47CA, HAD SEIZED. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT AND RUBBER MOUNTING COLLAR CONTINUED TURNING UNTIL THE SEIZED BEARING CHAFFED THROUGH THE COLLAR AND ALSO THE DRIVE SHAFT ITSELF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, PN 350A34-0110-02, SHEARED. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT BEARING WAS FACTORY LUBED AND SEALED AND HAD NO RETIREMENT TIME LIMIT. THE BEARING FAILED AFTER 729 HOURS OF OPERATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/12/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1051
Event Time Zone --
Event City ALCOA
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37701
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MCGHEE TYSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TYS
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1050
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
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 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 371
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3605B
NTSB Number ATL82DA100
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 S.N.I.A.S.
Aircraft Model AS350D ASTAR
Aircraft Series Identifier AS350D AST
Aircraft Serial Number 1215
Certified Max Gross Weight 4190
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 729
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOUNTAIN COALS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1562
Aircraft Owner City MICCLESBORO
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40965
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MOUNTAIN COALS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1562
Operator City MICCLESBORO
Operator State KY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 40965
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City MIDDESBORO
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City ALCOA
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --