Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Escalon, California 95320
Tuesady, February 2, 2010 14:00 PST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot had reported to his mechanic prior to the accident flight that the helicopter was not producing full power, was vibrating heavily, and that the DC generator caution light had illuminated. He also reported that his work load was heavy, and that he would continue onwards to return the helicopter to its home base. Shortly after takeoff the engine lost power, the pilot performed a forced landing, and the helicopter collided with terrain. Examination of the engine revealed that a stainless steel pneumatic fuel-to-governor control line had failed at its fitting. Witness marks on the line revealed that it had been rubbing against an adjacent oil line. Additionally, the pneumatic line had been bent during installation such that its surface was in contact with the connector ferrule. Analysis of the line's fracture surface revealed indications of high cycle fatigue. The fuel controller was replaced about 26 flight hours prior to the accident; replacement of the controller would have required the removal and installation of the failed line. The engine manufacturer provided installation guidance in multiple publications, and specifically cautioned against improper installations of engine lines. Examination of the DC starter-generator revealed that it had experienced a partial mechanical failure, which was likely the reason the pilot felt a vibration and observed a dc generator caution light. During the investigation the failed line was replaced, and the engine was successfully run in a test cell throughout its power range.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of the pneumatic fuel-to-governor control line. Also causal was the inadequate installation of the pneumatic line by maintenance personnel, and the pilot’s decision to continue flight with a known discrepancy.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 2/2/2010 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 1400 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Standard Time |
| Event City | Escalon |
| Event State | CALIFORNIA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 95320 |
| Event Date Year | 2010 |
| Event Date Month | 2 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 374549N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1205537W |
| 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 | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1353 Pacific Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 190 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KMOD |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 97 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 9 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 1300 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 4 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 12 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 8 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 10 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 4 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.83 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| 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) | 27192 |
| NTSB Notification Source | LAX ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 23 2010 6:53PM |
| User who most recently changed record | johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N9286U |
| NTSB Number | WPR10LA126 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | ARROW FALCON EXPORTERS INC |
| Aircraft Model | OH-58A |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 69-16198 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3000 |
| 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 | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Continuous Airworthiness |
| Date of Last Inspection | Dec 7 2009 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 3 |
| Airframe Hours | 7580 |
| ELT Installed | No |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | WILLIAM G CAVANAGH |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | MODESTO |
| Aircraft Owner State | CA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 95357-1724 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | CAVANAGH, WILLIAM G |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | MODESTO |
| Operator State | CA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 95357-1724 |
| Operator Code | VFEG |
| Owner has at least one certificate | Yes - certificate holder |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | Agriculture |
| Operator Certificate Number | VFEG233U |
| 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) | Positioning |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | -- |
| Departure City | Escalon |
| Departure State | CA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1355 |
| Departure Time Zone | PST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | -- |
| Destination City | Modesto |
| Destination State | CA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 19 2010 4:22PM |
| User who most recently changed record | coos |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |