- Date
- August 1, 1985, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Arroyo Grande, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N90328Bell 206 B3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850801035509A
- Case key
- 24787
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While hovering and slinging an external load over rough terrain the eng chip light illuminated. The plt immediately positioned the acft to release the load and the eng began making a 'whining' noise. Several seconds later all eng power was lost. The plt autorotated to a firm landing and upon touchdown the main rotor blades flexed downward and severed the tail boom. Exam of the eng's turbine components revealed the presence of a 'sludge' material in the scavenge oil line from the no. 8 bearing and also the presence of a heavy build up of carbon on the engine rotor 'peashooter' drive shaft. The accumulated material caused shaft rub and failure of the power turbine's inner shaft. The operator reported that an early inspection of the N1/N2 drive shaft area could have detected the problem and prevented the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90328
- Reported as
- Bell 206 B3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1853
- Airframe hours
- 4,096
- Engine
- Allison 250 SER 400HP, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Operator
- Western Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Gatx Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,959 total · 1,600 in this make and model · 170 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.