# Accident 20030712017769A: Skrsky S58ET, Ranchopalosverd, CA, July 12, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2003, 10:28 local time
- Place: Ranchopalosverd, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: CAXL
- Location: 33.7544° N, 118.3300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7544&lon=-118.3300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15AH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15AH-2017-07-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-58ET (registry code 8141803, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-58et) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-6 (registry code 52106, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6t-6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY S58ET
- Reported engine: PWA PT6T6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA232) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030712017769A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 12, 2003 N15AH AS INVOLVED IN 14 CFR PART 133 OPERATIONS AT MIRALEST INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL REMOVING AIR CONDITIONING UNITS FROM THE ROOFS OF THE NUMEROUS SCHOOL BUILDINGS. THE UNITS WEIGHED BETWEEN 500 AND 3,500 LBS. EACH. WHILE PERFORMING APPROXIMATELY THE 29TH LOAD THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR THRUST. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND DESTROYING THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT MADE A STATEMENT WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL THAT HE EXPERIENCED A CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT FROM THE INTERMEDIATE GEARBOX APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INTERMEDIATE GEARBOX FAILURE. THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS ONLY CARBON ON THE CHIP DETECTOR AT THAT TIME AND AFTER CLEANING THE CHIP DETECTOR HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS. THE PILOT CLAIMS THAT HE SAW NO CHIP LIGHT WHEN THE INTERMEDIATE GEARBOX FAILED. WHILE INSPECTING THE HELICOPTER AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE GEARBOX CHIP DETECTOR WAS NOT INSTALLED.

## 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 LAX03FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA232), Jul 12, 2003: Sikorsky S-58ET (N15AH), Rancho P.Verdes, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of antitorque control, due to the fatigue-induced failure of a gear within the drive shaft's intermediate gear box (IGB). Contributing factors were the pilot's improper on-ground…

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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