# NTSB LAX85IA040: Westland Helicopters WG30, N5840T, Santa Ana, CA, November 5, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1984, 21:45 local (Nov 5, 1984, 05:45 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ana, CA
- Coordinates: 33.709358, -117.870498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7094&lon=-117.8705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85IA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24556/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85IA040

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - electrical system,electric relay - failure,total (cause)
  - inadequate quality control, manufacturer (cause)
  - remedial action - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

DURING A CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE CREW EXPERIENCED CONTROL DIFFICULTIES WHEN THE FOR-&-AFT TRIM ACTUATOR BEGAN TO MOTOR FORWARD AND WOULD NOT STOP. AN EMERG DESCENT WAS MADE WITH BOTH PLTS EXERTING AFT CYCLIC PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE SPEED FROM INCREASING OVER 120 KTS. THE ACFT RETURNED SUCCESSFULLY TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. ALL GAGES INDICATED NORMAL AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE OBSERVED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE FB 10 ELECTRICAL RELAY AND SUBSEQUENT FOULING OF THE CONTACT OPERATION BY A BROKEN FRAGMENT. THE RELAY SPRING FAILED FROM FATIGUE, INITIATED AS MICRO CRACKS WHICH RESULTED FROM COLD FORMING BENDING AND SUBSEQUENT STRAIGHTENING PROCESS DURING MANUFACTURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5840T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5840T-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 006, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Westland Helicopters WG30
- 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: 006
- Airframe hours: 16927
- Engines: Rolls-Royce GEM 510 1050 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopters Of Ak, doing business as Merrill Field
- Registered owner: Airspur Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 1, 1984, 118 hours before
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SNA, John Wayne, runway 19, 2,887 × 0 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,400 total, 475 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 3 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 19841104070609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841104070609I), Nov 4, 1984: Westld WESTLAND30, Santa Ana, CA. Unable to stop cyclic from motoring forward. Returned to land. Pitch down relay FB10 leach PNM4004A spring broke.

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.