# NTSB investigations: Main rotor mast/swashplate

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ANC24FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA063.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Kekaha, HI · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 11, 2024 · N144KW · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with turbulence due to downdraft winds that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ERA22FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA105.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC135 P2+ · Drexel Hill, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 11, 2022 · N531LN · Substantial damage
  > An inflight attitude upset for undetermined reasons that resulted in a rotor system overspeed, a reduction of power from both engines, and a subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA21FA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA317.md): Rotorway Exec 162F · Argyle, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 7, 2021 · N162KJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s abrupt control inputs, which resulted in a low G condition, main rotor mast bumping, and the subsequent severing of the tail boom by a main rotor blade.
- [NTSB WPR21FA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA300.md): Robinson Helicopter R66 · Colusa, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 1, 2021 · N7000J · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s abrupt flight control input that led to mast bumping and a subsequent in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB CEN17FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA012.md): Fairchild Hiller FH 1100 · Lino Lakes, MN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2016 · N4035G · Destroyed
  > The separation of the main rotor assembly due to mast bumping.
- [NTSB WPR16FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA130.md): Robinson Helicopter R66 · Wikieup, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2016 · N117TW · Destroyed
  > An encounter with turbulence due to updrafts and/or dust devils that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight break-up.
- [NTSB WPR15LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA178.md): Garlick Helicopters UH 1H · Cove, OR · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 31, 2015 · N462CC · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the engine-to-transmission drive shaft coupling assembly due to a fatigue fracture of one of its attachment bolts, which resulted in a loss of power to the main rotor.
- [NTSB WPR15FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA051.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Bountiful, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 2, 2014 · N3234U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot/mechanic's failure to properly secure the pitch link hardware of one main rotor blade to the rotating swash plate, which resulted in the pitch link separating in flight and a subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB ERA13FA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA186.md): Robinson R44 · Miami, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 3, 2013 · N3101H · Destroyed
  > The mechanic's failure to properly secure the pitch link hardware of one main rotor blade to the rotating swash plate, which resulted in the pitch link separating in flight and the pilot's subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB WPR12LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA096.md): Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A · Brawley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 21, 2012 · N902SF · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the main rotor mast due to fatigue cracks that originated from corrosion pits. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended overhaul interval for the main rotor mast.
- [NTSB DCA12FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12FA024.md): Bell 214 · Camp Bastion, Afghanistan · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 16, 2012 · N5748M · Destroyed
  > the overtravel of the collective sleeve, which led to a severe and sudden reduction in main rotor blade collective pitch, resulting in a loss of control of the helicopter. The reason for the collective sleeve overtravel could not be determined since much of…
- [NTSB WPR11LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA303.md): Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58C · Brentwood, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2011 · N6264D · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the main rotor mast due to fatigue cracking originating from corrosion pits.
- [NTSB CEN10FA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA291.md): Bell 222 · Midlothian, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 2, 2010 · N515MK · Substantial damage
  > The fracture of a swashplate drive pin as a result of hydrogen embrittlement due to an unknown source, which resulted in an in-flight breakup of the main rotor system during cruise flight.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '01046230'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046230/cases

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