19970930029419A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Ccoptr TOMCAT MK5A · Pipestone Count, MN · September 30, 1997

Date: September 30, 1997 · 14:45 local
Place: Pipestone Count, MN
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: H5UG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9005T
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI97LA306
Reported as: Ccoptr TOMCATMK5A
Reported engine: Lycoming VO435A1F
Fatal injuries: 0

N9005TRegistered now · Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5AS/N CCI-74-1 · Built 1974 Airframe modelContinental Copters TOMCAT MK5A Engine modelLycoming VO-435 seriesReciprocating

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.

Collided with ground during ag operations. (.4) the pilot stated that while he was ferrying the helicopter to the next field he, `heard a loud bang from behind.' He said that the cyclic control, `jerked,' the helicopter began to vibrate, and the rotor RPM decreased. He increased the throttle, but the engine responded as if there was no load on the engine. He initiated autorotation, but was unable to regain control, and the aircraft impacted the terrain. Post accident investigation revealed that one of two pitch control rod assemblies had fractured between the clevis and turnbuckle. Examination of the fracture showed areas of fatigue striations and multiple crack initiation sites on the machined surface.

As the FAA filed it

COLLIDED WITH GROUND DURING AG OPERATIONS. (.4) THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS FERRYING THE HELICOPTER TO THE NEXT FIELD HE, `HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM BEHIND.' HE SAID THAT THE CYCLIC CONTROL, `JERKED,' THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE, AND THE ROTOR RPM DECREASED. HE INCREASED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE RESPONDED AS IF THERE WAS NO LOAD ON THE ENGINE. HE INITIATED AUTOROTATION, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF TWO PITCH CONTROL ROD ASSEMBLIES HAD FRACTURED BETWEEN THE CLEVIS AND TURNBUCKLE. EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SHOWED AREAS OF FATIGUE STRIATIONS AND MULTIPLE CRACK INITIATION SITES ON THE MACHINED SURFACE.

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 CHI97LA306Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPipestone, MNthe fracture of the pitch control rod assembly.Sep 30, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9005T · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20180726014749ACruise/Level Flight · Lesueur, MNPilot departed at dusk. Poor preflight planning. Ran out of fuel. Autorotation was not existent.Jul 26, 2018 · Substantial damage Accident 20130906017709ACruise/Level Flight · Arlington, MNAccording to the pilot's statement, while transitioning between fields in level cruise at between 300' and 400' AGL, the pilot transferred his left hand to the collective control so that he could plug his helmet in with his right hand. Right after he plugged…Sep 6, 2013 · Substantial damage