19870704032409A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Aerosp AS355F1 · Venice, LA · July 4, 1987

Date: July 4, 1987 · 14:45 local
Place: Venice, LA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: HEEA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5796M
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW87FA156
Reported as: Aerosp AS355F1
Reported engine: Allison 250C20F
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,739 total543 in this make and model202 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Main rotor head and blades separated in flight. Vibration absorber assembly bolts not installed during maintenance.

As the FAA filed it

MAIN ROTOR HEAD AND BLADES SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. VIBRATION ABSORBER ASSEMBLY BOLTS NOT INSTALLED DURING MAINTENANCE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW87FA156Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportVenice, LAOne of the mechanics who performed maintenance on the aircraft main rotor head stated that he was not sure that he installed the retaining bolts which secured the vibration absorber assembly to the aircraft. Metallurgical analysis of the assembly indicated…Jul 4, 1987 · Destroyed