# Accident 19980820021389A: Bell 222, Spencer, IA, August 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 20, 1998, 21:14 local time
- Place: Spencer, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: R7MA
- Location: 43.1403° N, 95.1494° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1403&lon=-95.1494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N30SV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30SV-1998-09-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222 (registry code 1182122, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 3,918 total, 597 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98FA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA323) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980820021389A

## Narrative

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

THE BHT 222 DEPARTED THE SIOUX VALLEY HOSPITAL IN FSD ON A VFR FLIGHT TO THE SPENCER MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL IN SPENCER, IA (SPW). IN CRUISE FLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WNW OF THE SPENCER AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN APPARENT FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION. THE ROTOR SYSTEM AND MAST ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM IN THE PROCESS.  THE MAIN FUSELAGE WITH THE OCCUPANT IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE LATER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE.  THE PILOT AND TWO MEDICAL CREW PERSONNEL WERE KILLED.  THE CAUSE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION IS BEING INVESTIGATED FURTHER.  PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES A FAILURE OF IMPROPER SECURING OF THE BOLT THAT HOLDS ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRAG LINKS.                                                                   (.4) THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT BREAK-UP WHEN IT WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 130 KNOTS AT 960 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS ON A 090 HEADING BETWEEN 0.8 TO 1.2 MILES WEST OF THE SPENCER, IOWA, AIRPORT.  EXAMINATION OF THE SWASHPLATE OUTER RING PINS REVEALED A BENDING FATIGUE FRACTURE OCCURRED IN THE 'WHITE' PIN.  THE FATIGUE CRACKING ORIGINATED IN T HE UNDERCUT FILLET RADIUS ADJACENT TO THE HEAD OF THE PIN. THE 'WHITE' AND 'RED' BORES AND THE 'RED' PIN (THE WHITE PIN WAS NOT LOCATED) WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER DIMENSIONS. THE EXAMINATION INDICATED AN INSUFFICIENT INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN THE OUTER SWASHPLATE BORES AND THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE SWASHPLATE RING PINS.

## 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 CHI98FA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA323), Aug 21, 1998: Bell 222 (N30SV), Spencer, IA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The below standard (loose) fit of the 'white' swashplate outer ring pin resulting in fatigue and subsequent separation of the pin, and ultimately the in-flight breakup of the rotorcraft. A factor 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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