Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Los Olivos, California 93012
Sunday, July 8, 2007 16:08 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot was preparing to takeoff in furtherance of a contract firefighting flight for the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The helicopter was on the ground with its engines at operational power, when a mechanical malfunction occurred. The pilot was unable to maintain roll control, and the helicopter initiated an uncommanded slow rollover onto its side. The helicopter was operated and maintained by its owner pursuant to a specific maintenance program. A component of this program involved examining each main rotor servo mount pin for rust and corrosion, and performance of dimensional checks prior to reinstallation of the inspected components. The company mechanic reported that he completed the inspection and found no faults. The records reflect that the components were reassembled and installed on the helicopter that was then returned to service. The accident occurred about 8 operational hours and 2 days following the reported maintenance inspection. During the accident investigation, components that secured one of the three main rotor blade pitch change servo units to the helicopter were found a few yards away from the main wreckage. The components consisted of a nut, bolt, pin, and plate. The components had secured one of the servo units to the helicopter transmission on one end and the helicopter swash plate on the other end. Separation of these components from the helicopter resulted in separation of the servo unit, and consequently resulted in a loss of main rotor blade pitch control. Upon the subsequent visual examination of components, evidence of severe wear and corrosion was detected inside of the nut holding down the retainer mounting strap, which indicates that this area had not been inspected for some time. Once the main rotor servo cylinder and transmission attaching lug separated, the rotor system would travel to the full pitch position, thereby resulting in the helicopter experiencing an uncommanded lift and roll to the right.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The company mechanic's inadequately performed maintenance and inspection, which resulted in a flight control malfunction and loss of control during takeoff.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 7/8/2007 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1608 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Los Olivos |
| Event State | CALIFORNIA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 93012 |
| Event Date Year | 2007 |
| Event Date Month | 7 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 344345N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1200619W |
| 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 | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Pilot |
| Time of the weather observation | |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | -- |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | -- |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | -- |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 28 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -- |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 90 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 9 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | -- |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Minor |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | 2 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 23928 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jul 8 2007 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 30 2008 9:00AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | WP-FSDO Van Nuys, CA |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N44094 |
| NTSB Number | LAX07LA210 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Company VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Aviation International Rotors |
| Aircraft Model | CH-54A |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 67-18421 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 38000 |
| Aircraft Category | Helicopter |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 2 |
| Number of Engines | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | AAIP |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jul 1 2007 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 8 |
| Airframe Hours | 8465 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Heavy Lift Helicopters, Inc. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 13463 Nomwaket |
| Aircraft Owner City | Apple Valley |
| Aircraft Owner State | CA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 92308 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| 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 | H3VL |
| Owner has at least one certificate | -- |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | External Load |
| 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) | Fire Fighting |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | NONE |
| Departure City | Los Olivos |
| Departure State | CA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1608 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | NONE |
| Destination City | Los Olivos |
| Destination State | CA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Takeoff |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 11 2008 5:20PM |
| User who most recently changed record | COOS |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |