# Accident 19881104049389A: Aerosp AS355F, West Cameron, LA, November 4, 1988

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 4, 1988, 06:51 local time
- Place: West Cameron, LA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ERAL
- Aircraft: N355EH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N355EH-1991-12-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL (registry code 8680806, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355-f-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSP AS355F
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20F
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 8,819 total, 1,081 in this make and model, 270 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW89FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881104049389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED AT TAKEOFF HOVER. LOSS CONTROL,SPUN INTO WATER AT HIGH IMPACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW89FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA013), Nov 4, 1988: Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 (N355EH), W. Cameron 617, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH OCCURRED WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT EXPERIENCED A FATIGUE INDUCED MATERIAL FAILURE AND TAIL ROTOR THRUST WAS LOST. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE SHAFT WAS…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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