# NTSB FTW88IA145: Bell 222UT, N3190K, Cameron, LA, August 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1988, 19:30 local (Aug 7, 1988, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Cameron, LA
- Coordinates: 29.789022, -93.29029 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7890&lon=-93.2903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22577
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88IA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22577/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA145

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - fatigue (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - failure,total
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT PITCHED 20 DEG NOSE DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 1,200' AND 120 KTS. FOLLOWING RECOVERY, THE ACFT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL RT PEDAL TO STAY IN TRIM AND IT FLEW ABOUT 10 DEG NOSED DOWN IN LVL FLT. FLT DIVERTED TO THE OPR'S BASE AND LANDED SUCCESSFULLY. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE RT HORZ STAB HAD SEPARATED JUST OUTBOARD OF THE TAILBOOM. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATION REVEALED MULTIPLE FATIGUE ORIGINS IN THE AREAS OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND AFT TOP SPAR CAP RIVET HOLES AND THAT THE CRACK IN THE AFT SPAR HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SOME TIME. PREVIOUS FAILURES IN THIS AREA HAD BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO WORKING RIVETS CAUSING STRESS CONCENTRATIONS IN THE RIVET HOLES. PREVENTION OF THIS TYPE FAILURE IS EFFECTED BY REPLACING THE AFFECTED RIVETS IN A TIMELY MANNER. MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD BEEN REPAIRED ON 3 PRIOR OCCASIONS, BUT THERE WERE NO RECORDS OF REPAIRS ON THE RT STABILIZER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3190K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222UT
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 47531
- Airframe hours: 2712
- Engines: LYCOMING LT5-101-750C1 700 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Textron Financial Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 3, 1988, 9 hours before
- Departed: EC, EAST CAMERON245, GM
- Destination: LCH, LAKE CHARLES, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: Private

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,491 total, 958 in this make and model, 7,774 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHI, 10 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 19880806071059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880806071059I), Aug 6, 1988: Bell 222U, Cameron, LA, Minor damage. Right horizontal stabilizer separated in flight. Landed safely at nearest airstrip. Fatigue cracks not timely fixed

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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