Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crafton, Pennsylvania
Sunday, July 4, 1982 22:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. IMMEDIATELY, THE NOSE YAWED TO THE LEFT AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTORATION AND MADE A HARD LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE AFT BEARING SUPPORT HAD TWO BOLTS MISSING AND THE THIRD BOLT WAS SHEARED BUT STILL IN THE MOUNT HOLE. THIS ALLOWED THE AFT TURBINE SECTION TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TURBINE HOUSING. EXAMINATION OF THE FIRST STAGE AXIAL COMPRESSOR REVEALED BLADE NUMBER 4 TO HAVE A PIECE MISSING FROM THE ROOT SECTION. FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT ON OTHER BLADES EXAMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2235
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CRAFTON
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2055
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 Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8259
NTSB Number NYC82FGM12
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 Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Explosion Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA 316B
Aircraft Series Identifier SA 316B
Aircraft Serial Number 1771
Certified Max Gross Weight 4630
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 5
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 70
Airframe Hours 4551
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MT HELICOPTER INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROCKY MT HELICOPTER INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84601
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City CRAFTON
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2228
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CRAFTON
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --