# NTSB ANC83FA122: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N141EH, Dutch Harbor, AK, July 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1983, 16:23 local (Jul 12, 1983, 00:23 UTC)
- Place: Dutch Harbor, AK
- Coordinates: 53.890045, -166.540588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=53.8900&lon=-166.5406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4038
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4038/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA122

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - lubricating system - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

APRX 2 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT & PASSENGERS HEARD A LOUD MUFFLED BOOM FROM BEHIND THE FIREWALL, THEN THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY. THE PLT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION & SELECTED A LANDING AREA. HE NOTED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT DRIVING THE ROTOR SYS, SO HE SHUT IT DOWN TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE WHILE LANDING. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON SLOPING, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CAME TO REST IN A RAVINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE #3 BEARING, PN 4-301-051-02, HAD FAILED & THAT THE OIL JET FOR THE BEARING WAS CLOGGED. REPORTEDLY, MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WERE AWARE THAT A DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE CHECK, TO DETECT CLOGGING TO THE #2 & #3 PACKAGED OIL JETS, WAS 7 TO 8 PSI. THIS WAS 2 TO 3 PSI TOO HIGH & INDICATED CLOGGING OF THE OIL JETS. (THIS PROCEDURE WAS OUTLINED IN LYCOMING SVC BULLETIN LTS101A-17-0014). HOWEVER, THE DISCREPANCY WAS NOT ENTERED IN THE ENG MAINTENANCE LOGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N141EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N141EH-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 1460 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1460
- Airframe hours: 813
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-600A2 615 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Era Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 11, 1983
- Destination: DUT, DUTCH HARBOR, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,807 total, 1,006 in this make and model, 6,703 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830711036079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830711036079A), Jul 11, 1983: Snias AS350D, Dutch Harbor, AK, Destroyed. Helicopter crashed during autorotation emergency landing after engine failure. Bearing failure on turbine shaft.

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.

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