# NTSB LAX84AA054: Westland Helicopters 30-100, N5830T, Long Beach, CA, November 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1983, 17:00 local (Nov 8, 1983, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.820304, -118.109733 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8203&lon=-118.1097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23889
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84AA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23889/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84AA054

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - rotorcraft flight control,t/r bellcrank/quadrant - fatigue (cause)
  - rotorcraft flight control system,tail rotor servo - fatigue (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT 4,000 FT MSL DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER DESCENDING THROUGH THE LOCALIZED CLOUD LAYER IN A LEFT HIGH-ROTATION TURN, WITH THE PITCH ATTITUDE VARYING & ITS RATE OF DESCENT 'VERY FAST.' THE HELICOPTER THEN COLLIDED WITH HIGH TENSION WIRES. THE T/R SERVO WAS FOUND ATTACHED TO THE VERT STABILIZER MOUNT WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF THE N-DEG-2 LEVER ATTACHED TO IT. THE PITCH CHANGE LEVER FROM THE SERVO TO THE 90-DEG GEARBOX HAD FRACTURED DO TO HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. THE T/R BLADES CONTAINED COUNTERWEIGHTS WHICH ARE DESIGNED, TOGETHER WITH AERODYNAMIC AIRLOADS, TO ASSIST IN RETURNING THE BLADES TO A NEAR 'NEUTRAL' PITCH IN THE EVENT OF A T/R DRIVE AND/OR PITCH CONTROL LEVER FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5830T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5830T-2017-07-20), registration cancelled 2017-07-20, S/N 005, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Westland Helicopters 30-100
- Registry model: [Westland Helicopters WG30](https://openairdocs.org/model/westland-helicopters-wg30) (registry code 9650160) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 005
- Airframe hours: 558
- Engines: Rolls-Royce GEM MK 510 1100 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Airspur Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 5, 1983, 5 hours before
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Destination: SNA, ORANGE COUNTY, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SLI, Los Alamitos Aaf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,353 total, 222 in this make and model, 1,833 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGB, 4 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).

- [Accident 19831107075939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831107075939A), Nov 7, 1983: Westld WESTLAND30, Long Beach, CA, Destroyed. Tail rotor pitch change lever from servo to 90 degree gearbox failed. Struck lines and ground in descending turn.

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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