# NTSB MIA78FLD32: Sikorsky S-52-3, N4643S, Eustis, FL, April 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1978
- Place: Eustis, FL · EUSTIS, FL
- Location: 28.8572° N, 81.6768° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eustis, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8572&lon=-81.6768&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142002
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FLD32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FLD32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1438   78/4/4  NR.EUSTIS,FL          SIKORSKY S-52-3     CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 1500
        TIME - 1115                    N4643S              PX-  0  0  1  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 1 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DILLARD GROVE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANFORD,FL                  EUSTIS,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: PISTON,PISTON RINGS
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- CONNECTING ROD CAP BOLT FAILED IN CENTER LEFT CYLINDER.PISTON RINGS HAD NOT FULLY SEATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4643S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4643S-1993-07-20), registration cancelled 1993-07-20, S/N 125521 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-52-3
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-52-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-52-3) (registry code 8141306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Dillard Grove

## 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 19780404006989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780404006989A), Apr 4, 1978: Skrsky S523, Eustis, FL, Substantial damage. Connecting rod cap bolt failed in center left cylinder. Piston rinad not fully seated.

## Other investigations on N4643S (1)

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 UNK69X0108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK69X0108), Feb 3, 1969: Sikorsky S-52-3 (N4643S), Santo Domingo (Atlantic Ocean), 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.

---
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.