# Incident 20221001009409I: Sikorsky SK-64, Central Point, OR, October 1, 2022

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 1, 2022, 15:00 local time
- Place: Central Point, OR
- Airport: Medford
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: E8KL
- Location: 42.3765° N, 122.9104° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Central Point, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3765&lon=-122.9104&mi=10
- Aircraft: N159AC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N159AC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-64F (registry code 8142610, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-64f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A series (registry code 52047, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jftd12a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY SK-64
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221001009409I

## Narrative

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

THE FLIGHT WAS MAINTENANCE RELATED FOR A RETURN TO SERVICE VALIDATION.  THE PORTIONS OF THE FLIGHT LEADING TO THE INCIDENT WERE UNEVENTFUL AND THE MAINTENANCE RELATED TASKS WERE SATISFACTORY.  THE FINAL FLIGHT CHECK REQUIRED HOVERING THE AIRCRAFT NEAR MAX GROSS WEIGHT.  IT WAS DECIDED TO UTILIZE WATER IN THE FIXED TANK TO ACCOMPLISH THIS CONDITION.  THIS IS A TYPICAL ACTION TO INCREASE THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT FOR TESTING.

DURING A HOVER OVER THE ROGUE RIVER TO FILL THE WATER TANK, THE PIC ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT WHEELS TO DESCEND INTO THE WATER.  HIS CONTROL INPUTS TO ARREST THIS ACTION RESULTED IN THE FUSELAGE ENTERING A SLIGHT NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE THUS CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO CONTACT THE RIVER.  ALTHOUGH THE FLIGHT ENGINEER COULD NOT SEE THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACT THE RIVER (HIS VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE FIXED TANK), HE SAW A VOLUME OF WATER DIRECTED LATERALLY FROM THE SURFACE OF THE RIVER AND FELT A "THUMP" IN THE AIRFRAME.  THESE INDICATIONS COMBINED WITH THE WHEELS VISIBLY BEING IN THE WATER, LEAD HIM TO BELIEVE THAT THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACT THE WATER.  THE CREW DECIDED TO RETURN TO MEDFORD AIRPORT (KMFR) AND PARK AT THEIR FACILITY.  DURING THE FLIGHT BACK THE FLIGHT CREW NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE AIRFRAME.  THEY LANDED AT THE AIRPORT WITHOUT INCIDENT, SHUT DOWN THE ENGINES, AND INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT. FOLLOW UP ACTION AND AIRMAN INFORMATION PENDING THIS RECORD WILL UPDATED AS AN AMMENDMENT ONCE INFORMATION IS AVAILIABLE

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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