# NTSB LAX81FA049: Sikorsky S-62A, N324Y, Avalon, CA, February 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 22, 1981
- Place: Avalon, CA · AVALON, CA
- Location: 33.3440° N, 118.3214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Avalon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3440&lon=-118.3214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 5 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126572
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA049
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA049

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3580  81/2/22    AVALON,CA           SIKORSKY S-62A      CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 3400
        TIME - 1420                    N324Y               PX-  2  4  1  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 340 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PEBBLY BEACH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN PEDRO,CA                AVALON,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: MAIN ROTOR BRAKE ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- MAIN ROTOR DISK FAILED FM FATIGUE,60DEG SEGMENT OF DISK SEPD.INPUT CTL ROD TO L LAT PRI SERVO SEPD
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N324Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N324Y-1989-01-18), registration cancelled 1989-01-18, S/N 62012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-62A
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S62A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s62a) (registry code 8142202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pebbly Beach

## 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 19810222004869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810222004869A), Feb 22, 1981: Skrsky S62A, Avalon, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost lateral control on approach. Rolled over, dived into ocean. Left lateral servo control rod broke,bogus washers

## Other investigations on N324Y (2)

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.

- [NTSB FTW67A0035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67A0035-201154), Sep 19, 1966: Sikorsky S-62A (N324Y), Morgan City, LA, destroyed
- [NTSB FTW66A0078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66A0078), Mar 10, 1966: Sikorsky S-62A (N324Y), Venice, LA, substantial damage

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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