# NTSB FTW81IA066: Sikorsky S-76A, N1546Z, Morgan City, LA, April 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 7, 1981
- Place: Morgan City, LA · MORGAN CITY, LA
- Location: 29.7103° N, 91.1915° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgan City, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7103&lon=-91.1915&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 13 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81IA066
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81IA066

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0013   81/4/7    MORGAN CITY,LA      SIKORSKY S-76A      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 5692
        TIME - 0810                    N1546Z              PX-  0  0 12  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 221 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PATTERSON,LA                GULF OF MEXICO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: MAIN ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- TIP PLATE ATCH BOLTS,NAS 624-H6,FAILED.PRIMER/METAL FILED FM TIP BLK,RESIN ADDED,OUT-OF-FLAT COND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1546Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-76A
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor 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 19810407018259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810407018259A), Apr 7, 1981: Skrsky S76A, Morgan City, LA, Minor damage. Vibration in flight. Found main rotor tip weight and cap missing from one rotor blade. Bolt fatigue failure.

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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