# NTSB DEN79FA001: Sikorsky S58ET, N47783, Steamboat Spgs, CO, October 1, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 1, 1978
- Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO · STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO
- Location: 40.4756° N, 106.8229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Steamboat Springs, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4756&lon=-106.8229&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3296   78/10/1   STEAMBOAT SPGS,CO   SIKORSKY S58ET      CR-  1  2  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 4188
        TIME - 1055                    N47783              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, 860 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STEAMBOAT SPRINGS,CO        LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: SUBSTANDARD QUALITY CONTROL
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: MAIN ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MINERAL EXPLORATION.HORIZONTAL HINGE PIN FAILED.BLADE SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47783](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47783-1982-08-23), registration cancelled 1982-08-23, S/N 58-1112, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S58ET
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-58ET](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-58et) (registry code 8141803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19781001043809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781001043809A), Oct 1, 1978: Skrsky S58E, Steamboat Spgs, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Mineral exploration. Horizontal hinge pin failed. Blade separated.

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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