# NTSB ATL88IA171: Aerospatiale AS-355-F, N101UC, Reidsville, NC, May 13, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1988, 22:00 local (May 13, 1988, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Reidsville, NC
- Location: 36.3369° N, 79.6770° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Reidsville, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3369&lon=-79.6770&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7638/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA171

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - fatigue (cause)
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - separation (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,recordkeeping - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N101UC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N101UC-2000-06-26), registration cancelled 2000-06-26, S/N 5186 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-355-F
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355-f-ecureuil) (registry code 8680806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5186
- Airframe hours: 2608
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Silver Star Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 4, 1988, 20 hours before
- Departed: GRUNDY, WV
- Destination: DURHAM, NC
- Airport: NC14, Rockingham County, runway 31, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,300 total, 350 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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).

- [Incident 19880512015299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880512015299I), May 12, 1988: Aerosp AS355F, Reidsville, NC, Minor damage. Tail rotor assembly separated at the gear box in flight. Made safe autorotation. Inadequate service inspections.

## Other investigations on N101UC (2)

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 NYC97LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA058), Mar 5, 1997: Aerospatiale AS-355F (N101UC), Washington, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of a cyclic servo which resulted in a cyclic hard over at a hover.
- [NTSB SEA92LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA029), Oct 29, 1991: Aerospatiale AS355F1 (N101UC), Billings, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE UNLATCHING AND SUBSEQUENT OPENING INFLIGHT OF THE LEFT-REAR ENGINE COWL DOOR. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO EXECUTE THE MANUFACTURER'S…

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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