- Date
- February 22, 1982, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Sutherlin, OR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4524Kaman HH-43F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 22, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820222004969A
- Case key
- 72767
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
The helicopter was being used on a logging operation. After releasing a load from a hover out of ground effect, the pilot began to turn and accelerate. About two-thirds to three-fourths of the way through a 180 degree turn, the aircraft began a sudden, very violent, rapid vibration. The pilot recalled being thrashed about while the helicopter rolled to the right and crashed. An investigation revealed that one of the right rotor blades had failed. A 9.5 ft section of the outboard leading edge along with approximately a 3.5 ft piece of the blade tip had separated. They were found about 1/4 mile from the main wreckage. An examination of the blade revealed that the stainless steel conductor strip, pn K711583-11, had been pulled loose from the bolt which held it on the top side of the blade. The bottom bolt hole was elongated and the bottom of the strip was stretched. The paint showed whip marks radiating out from the inboard attach point. A nearby tree had no evidence of rotor contact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4524
- Reported as
- Kaman HH-43F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 62-4524
- Airframe hours
- 3,899
- Engine
- Lycoming T-53-L-11-D, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 133
- Operator
- Donald Lederhos
- Registered owner
- Donald Lederhos
- Departed
- Sutherlin, OR
- Destination
- Sutherlin, OR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificates
- Private, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 6,378 total · 2,564 in this make and model · 6,054 as pilot in command · 103 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 117 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4524 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.