20100715037509A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Garlick Hel OH-58A+ · Rowley, MA · July 15, 2010

Date: July 15, 2010 · 14:15 local
Place: Rowley, MA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N802JB
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA10LA362
Reported as: Garlick Hel OH-58A+
Reported engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,500 total3,500 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N802JBRegistered now · Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+S/N 71-20851 · Built 1971 Airframe modelGarlick Helicopters OH-58A+Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

The helicopter was performing aerial application when a low RPM audio came on. The pilot lowered the collective which restored RPM. Approximately 30 minutes later while in cruise flight at 200 feet AGL at 70 knots low rotor audio came on again. Again collective was lowered to restore RPM. It was at this point that the engine went to what the pilot describes as a "full fuel situation." Collective was increased to "load" engine and rotor to prevent overspeed. This had no noticeable effect. Throttle was then rolled to idle, with no effect. Throttle was rolled to idle and autorotation was performed. Aircraft landed hard causing damage to the helicopter.

As the FAA filed it

THE HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION WHEN A LOW RPM AUDIO CAME ON. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE WHICH RESTORED RPM. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 200 FEET AGL AT 70 KNOTS LOW ROTOR AUDIO CAME ON AGAIN. AGAIN COLLECTIVE WAS LOWERED TO RESTORE RPM. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT THE ENGINE WENT TO WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBES AS A "FULL FUEL SITUATION." COLLECTIVE WAS INCREASED TO "LOAD" ENGINE AND ROTOR TO PREVENT OVERSPEED. THIS HAD NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT. THROTTLE WAS THEN ROLLED TO IDLE, WITH NO EFFECT. THROTTLE WAS ROLLED TO IDLE AND AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED. AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.

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 ERA10LA362Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRowley, MAThe failure of the power turbine governor internal driveshaft bearings, resulting in the failure of the governor.Jul 15, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N802JB · 1

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

Accident 20060919023499ANormal Cruise · Bridgewater, MA(-23) The helicopter was engaged in transporting empty cranberry bins by sling load. The bins were being moved from a trailer truck and taken to a cranberry bog to be filled. While a load of four bins was being transported the load released with no command…Sep 19, 2006