What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Maintenance had been performed on the helicopter as follows: 1. Annual inspection on 05/09/2005 at los banos, CA. Tt 1601.8 hrs. 2. Installed new bulkhead p/n C261-5 at top of mast fairing on 05/09/2005 at los banos, CA. Tt 1601.8 hrs. The installation of the mast fairing bulkhead required that the (2) two cyclic control rods (robinson-sleeve p/n A143-I) be removed. At the accident site the left sleeve was found to not be connected to the stationary swashplate. The rod end, p/n D173-1 was missing (broken) from the sleeve. The sleeve rod end to swashplane attaching bolt (NA6605-19) & nut (MS21042L5) were found on the runway near the helicopters last departure point prior to the accident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE HELICOPTER AS FOLLOWS: 1. ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 05/09/2005 AT LOS BANOS, CA. TT 1601.8 HRS. 2. INSTALLED NEW BULKHEAD P/N C261-5 AT TOP OF MAST FAIRING ON 05/09/2005 AT LOS BANOS, CA. TT 1601.8 HRS. THE INSTALLATION OF THE MAST FAIRING BULKHEAD REQUIRED THAT THE (2) TWO CYCLIC CONTROL RODS (ROBINSON-SLEEVE P/N A143-I) BE REMOVED. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE THE LEFT SLEEVE WAS FOUND TO NOT BE CONNECTED TO THE STATIONARY SWASHPLATE. THE ROD END, P/N D173-1 WAS MISSING (BROKEN) FROM THE SLEEVE. THE SLEEVE ROD END TO SWASHPLANE ATTACHING BOLT (NA6605-19) & NUT (MS21042L5) WERE FOUND ON THE RUNWAY NEAR THE HELICOPTERS LAST DEPARTURE POINT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.