# NTSB FTW84IA094: Sikorsky S76A, N5444X, Cameron, LA, November 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1983, 20:00 local (Nov 9, 1983, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Cameron, LA
- Coordinates: 29.790493, -93.290077 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7905&lon=-93.2901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21160
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84IA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21160/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84IA094

## Sequence of events

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

- Other gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - not engaged (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly - fire (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE #1 ENGINE FAILED EXPLOSIVLY. A POST EXPLOSION FIRE ENSUED AND BOTH FIRE BOTTLES WERE UTILIZED TO NO AVAIL. DURING LANDING THE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SETTLED ON ITS BELLY. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5444X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5444X-1995-12-12), registration cancelled 1995-12-12, S/N 760174 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S76A
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-76](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76) (registry code 8143010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 760174
- Airframe hours: 2994
- Engines: ALLISON 250C30 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: 7R5, Petroleum Helt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 11,062 total, 1,574 in this make and model, 9,642 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Observed at: LCH, 23 nm away

## 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 19831108074489I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831108074489I), Nov 8, 1983: Skrsky S76A, Cameron, LA, Minor damage. #2 Engine bearing failed on climbout. Turbine wheel disentregated. Gear collapsed on landing. Fire in engine case.

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.