# Accident 20130315005139A: Sikorsky S-76A, Cameron, LA, March 15, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 2013, 11:47 local time
- Place: Cameron, LA
- Airport: Lake Charles Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: U0GA
- Location: 30.0386° N, 93.1675° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0386&lon=-93.1675&mi=10
- Aircraft: N574EH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N574EH-2018-08-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-76A (registry code 8143006, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 22,564 total, 850 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA192) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130315005139A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER TOOK OFF AT 1119 FROM LCH FOR A MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT.  DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT CALLED LCH TOWER AND ERA HELICOPTER COMMUNICATIONS CENTER TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY.  WITNESSES STATE THEY SAW AIRCRAFT SPINNING JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED AT 1147.  INVESTIGATION YIELDED A MISSING TAIL ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY.  ANALYSIS INDICATE TAIL ROTOR BLADE FAILURE.

## 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 CEN13FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA192), Mar 15, 2013: Sikorsky S-76A++ (N574EH), Grand Lake, LA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: Fracture of the red tail rotor blade spar, which resulted in the separation and departure of the red tail rotor blade from the helicopter and subsequent compromised tail gearbox. The red tail rotor…

## Other reports on N574EH (1)

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

- [Incident 20041222033379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041222033379I), Dec 22, 2004: Skrsky S76A (N574EH), Lake Charles, LA. (-23) Engine had a chip light with T5 temperature indications. Pilot shut down engine and returned to Lake Charles airport.

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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