# NTSB LAX89LA281: Aerospatiale AS350D, N35970, Volcano, HI, August 19, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1989, 09:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Volcano, HI
- Coordinates: 19.690519, -155.079696 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.6905&lon=-155.0797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA281
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26480/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA281

## Probable cause

A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE POWER TURBINE SHAFT AND BEARINGS. THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF OIL STARVATION DUE TO AN EXCESSIVELY WORN CHIP DETECTOR O-RING SEAL,INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND PREFLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - lubricating system,oil seal - worn (cause)
  - maintenance,100-hour inspection - poor, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator turbine shaft - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE VFR SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNER 14 CFR 135. WHILE DESCENDING INTO A MOUNTAINOUS AREA THE PILOT FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION ABT 10 - 15 SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION IN THE UPWARD SLOPING TERRAIN AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED-OVER ON TOUCHDOWN.  THE ENGINE EXAM DSCLSD THAT THE POWER TURBINE SHAFT AND THE NOS. 2 & 3 BEARINGS FAILED DUE TO OIL STARVATION AND DISPLAYED EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURE DISTRESS. THE CHIP DETECTOR O-RING SEAL WAS EXCESSIVELY WORN. OIL RESIDUE STREAKING WAS FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE/ TAILCONE ASSY AND THE VERTICAL/HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35970](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35970-2000-05-01), registration cancelled 2000-05-01, S/N 1131 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350D
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350D](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350d) (registry code 8680804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1131
- Airframe hours: 8833
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101 600 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Papillon Helicopters, Ltd, doing business as Papillon Hawaiian Tours
- Registered owner: Papillon Hawaiian Helc., Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 8, 1989, 68 hours before
- Departed: WAIKOLOA, HI
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890819030479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890819030479A), Aug 19, 1989: Snias AS350D, Volcano, HI, Destroyed. Lost power. Autorotated to crash landing. Power turbine shaft had failed. Site was on slopes of mauna loa.

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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