# Accident 20190911012989A: Sikorsky S-58ET, Azusa, CA, September 11, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 2019, 12:00 local time
- Place: Azusa, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: CAXA
- Location: 34.1239° N, 117.8986° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1239&lon=-117.8986&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1168U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1168U) (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: SIKORSKY S-58ET
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6T-6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 9,819 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR19LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190911012989A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AT ABOUT 1000 FT. AGL WITH AN AIRSPEED AROUND 110 KTS ON A FERRY FLGITH FROM MIT TO AJO. OVER THE CITY OF AZUSA,CA THE PILOT HEARD AND FELT A LOUD BANG WITHOUT ANY ONSET OF NOISE OR VIBRATION. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE WITHOUT MAKING ANY OTHER SUDDEN OR LARGE INPUTS. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO AUTO ROTATE AND LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON AN ATHLETIC FIELD AT THE HIGHSCHOOL. THE TIME FROM INITIAL FAILURE INDICATION TO TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT ESTIMATES WAS LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. THE PILOT EXPEDITED AIRCRAFT SHUTDOWN AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 WPR19LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA255), Sep 11, 2019: Sikorsky S58 (N1168U), Azusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of a section of the tail rotor blade due to a fatigue crack, which resulted in the pilot’s forced autorotation into a field.

## Other reports on N1168U (1)

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

- [Accident 19890414007979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890414007979A), Apr 14, 1989: Skrsky S58ET (N1168U), Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. Taxied over a ramp depression, helicopter entered ground resonance, left gear broke due corrosion and overload.

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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