# NTSB IAD76AI047: Sikorsky S-55, N3498, California, MD, January 9, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 9, 1976
- Place: California, MD · CALIFORNIA, MD
- Location: 38.2976° N, 76.4921° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of California, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2976&lon=-76.4921&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152251
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD76AI047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76AI047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0097   76/1/9    CALIFORNIA,MD       SIKORSKY S-55       CR-  1  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 3140
        TIME - 0850                    N3498               PX-  0  0  0  CONSTRUCTION              TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LEONARDTOWN,MD              SOLOMONS,MD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: INCORRECT FACTORY INSTALLATION
           ROTORCRAFT - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: CYCLIC PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER CLEARANCE-TOLERANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- WHEEL EQPD.FORE AND AFT SERVO P/N 514-40-5003 STEEL CYL SLEEVE AGAINST UPPER END CAP.FORTNER OVHLD
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3498](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3498-1980-11-19), registration cancelled 1980-11-19, S/N 55-600, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-55
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-55B](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-55b) (registry code 8141604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial 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 19760109004719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760109004719A), Jan 9, 1976: Skrsky S55B, California, MD, Substantial damage. Wheel eqpd. Fore and aft servo p/n 514-40-5003 steel cyl sleeve against upper end cap. Fortner ovhld

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.