# NTSB SEA83FA198: Bell 205A-1, N58034, Elk Rock, WA, September 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1983, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Elk Rock, WA
- Coordinates: 46.310195, -122.690544 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3102&lon=-122.6905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 7 serious, 5 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39631/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FA198

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator - failure,total (cause)
  - reduction gear assy,accessory drive gear - fatigue (cause)
  - miscellaneous - overspeed
  - miscellaneous - vibration
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not possible, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 800 FT AGL, WHEN THE PLT NOTED A SEVERE SHUDDER & VIBRATION. HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, THEN NOTICED THAT THE N2 & ROTOR RPM WERE PEGGED AT 110%. AS HE REAPPLIED THE COLLECTIVE TO STOP THE OVERSPEED, HE NOTED A LOSS OF THRUST & BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. THE ONLY SUITABLE AREA OF LAND WAS ON A MUD FLOWN. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO TURN INTO THE WIND IN THE LANDING AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING, DOWNWIND, ON ROUGH TERRAIN. A DISASSEMBLY & EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT BEARING (#21), PN 1-300-082-01, AND THE N2 TACHOMETER DRIVE SPUR GEAR, PN 1-070-062-04, HAD FAILED. FATIGUE WAS FOUND ON THE SPUR GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58034](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58034-1989-09-01), registration cancelled 1989-09-01, S/N 30132 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 205A-1
- Registry model: [Bell 205A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-205a-1) (registry code 1181414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 30132
- Airframe hours: 6550
- Engines: LYCOMING T53-13B 1250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Heli-Jet, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 6, 1983, 43 hours before
- Departed: HOFFSTADT, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,677 total, 1,174 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F

## 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 19830905046469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830905046469A), Sep 5, 1983: Bell 205A1, Elk Rock, WA, Destroyed. Crash occurred during autorotation emergency landing after power failure.

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.