# NTSB FTW87FA203: Aerospatiale AS-355F-1, N359E, Ship Shoal 214c, August 19, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1987, 11:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place: Ship Shoal 214c
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22270
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22270/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA203

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - lubricating system,oil cooler - vibration (cause)
  - maintenance,balancing - not corrected, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - information unavailable, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - vibration (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - fatigue (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - separation (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - emergency procedure - not possible
  - acft/equip,inadequate control location, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - inadequate certification/approval,aircraft, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,float assembly - failure,partial (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT EXPERIENCED A TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE DURING T/O FROM AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM. ACFT SPUN LEFT AND COMPLETED 6 TO 7 REVOLUTIONS PRIOR TO WATER CONTACT AS THE SINGLE PLT COULD NOT REACH THE THROTTLES TO REDUCE PWR TO IDLE. ACFT LANDED HARD AND THE RT FLOAT DEPLOYED ON TOUCHDOWN WHILE THE LEFT FLOAT DID NOT AND THE ACFT ROLLED LEFT. OCCUPANTS SWAM TO RIG FROM WHICH T/O HAD BEEN INITIATED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD SHAFT (NO. 1 SEGMENT) HAD FAILED IN THE AREA OF THE AFT SPLINES NEAR THE MAIN GEARBOX OIL COOLING FAN CONNECTION. FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FATIGUE DUE TO FRETTING CAUSED BY ABNORMAL VIBRATION LEVELS INDUCED BY THE OIL COOLING FAN BLADES. ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT FAN BLADES WOULD BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH DEPOSITS OF GREASE, OIL, AND SOOT CAUSING VIBRATION TO INCREASE FROM .6 IPS TO 4.0 IPS. NO PREVIOUS REQUIREMENT TO CLEAN THE FAN BLADES EXISTED AND THE VIBRATION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DETECTABLE BY THE PLT OR PAX.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N359E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N359E-1989-07-10), registration cancelled 1989-07-10, S/N 5138 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-355F-1
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355 F ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355-f-ecureuil) (registry code 8680806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5138
- Airframe hours: 3102
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Transcontinental Gas Pipeline
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 21, 1987, 59 hours before
- Destination: SHIP SHOAL 246, GM
- Airport: Ship Shoal 214c

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,514 total, 2,810 in this make and model, 4,815 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 325° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °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).

- [Accident 19870819046869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870819046869A), Aug 19, 1987: Aerosp AS355F, Gulf Of Mexico, LA, Substantial damage. Lost tailrotor control on liftoff from Gulf helipad. Activated floats late rolled over. Tailrotor shaft 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.

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