# NTSB LAX81DUJ31: Sikorsky S-55, N95485, Poston, AZ, January 24, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 24, 1981
- Place: Poston, AZ · POSTON, AZ
- Location: 33.9921° N, 114.4045° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Poston, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9921&lon=-114.4045&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUJ31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUJ31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0880  81/1/24    POSTON,AZ           SIKORSKY S-55       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 9526
        TIME - 1350                    N95485              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 326 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          POSTON,AZ                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT                      TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  205                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - ENTRY TO PROCEDURE TURN
        REMARKS- CON LINK ROD ON #4CYL ASSY NOT ATTACHED TO PISTON ASSY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95485](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95485), registered now, S/N 55-3217, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-55
- Registry model: [Sikorsky UH-19D](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-uh-19d) (registry code 814161G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright R-1300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1300-series) (registry code 67060, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810124001549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810124001549A), Jan 24, 1981: Skrsky S55, Poston, AZ, Destroyed. Engine quit on swath run. Crash-landed. Too low for autorotation. Found warped valve, broken connecting rod.

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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