# NTSB CHI79FEM37: Sikorsky S-55B, N6737, Stanton, MI, August 30, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1979
- Place: Stanton, MI · STANTON, MI
- Location: 43.2932° N, 85.0796° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stanton, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2932&lon=-85.0796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEM37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEM37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2298  79/8/30    STANTON,MI          SIKORSKY S-55B      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0900                    N6737               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 32, 4165 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1581 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STANTON,MI                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: EN ROUTE TO TREAT CROP
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR BRAKE ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
                                  AIRFRAME BUFFET
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - POTATOES                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT                      TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  600
        REMARKS- 7 OF 8 NUTS & WASHERS MISSING FROM COUPLING BETWEEN BRAKE DRUM,P/N 314-35-3116,& DRIVE SHAFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6737](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6737-2013-05-01), registration cancelled 2013-05-01, S/N 57-5951, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-55B
- Registry model: [Sikorsky UH-19D](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-uh-19d) (registry code 814161G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790830025639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790830025639A), Aug 30, 1979: Skrsky S55, Stanton, MI, Substantial damage. Experienced severe vibration. Started hover for landing. Helicopter crashed. Rubber coupling assembly failed.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.