NTSB investigations: Lycoming VO-435 series

25 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Lycoming VO-435 series, where the first occurrence was “Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations: Lycoming VO-435 series per year, 1982–2026: 25 cases
19822
19831
19852
19862
19871
19881
19891
19901
19912
19921
19931
19941
19953
19972
19991
20011
20032

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41525')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 130))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CHI03FA277Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportBell TH-13T · Light, ARThe total failure and seizure of the main rotor transmission while in cruise flight leading to the helicopter’s impact with terrain.Aug 21, 2003 · N38CD · Substantial damageNTSB LAX03LA236Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2A · Porterville, CAFatigue-induced failure of bolts in the helicopter's rotor drive flange, which resulted in a total loss of torque to the rotor drive shaft.Jul 20, 2003 · N4774S · Substantial damageNTSB FTW01LA202Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12D · Lubbock, TXthe failure of the tail rotor drive shaft hanger bearing, which resulted in the separation of the tail rotor drive shaft. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Sep 3, 2001 · N2770 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL99LA107Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Camden, ALThe failure of the cyclic control rod due to an overstress separation resulting from a material defect (inadequate quality of material) by the manufacturer.Jul 14, 1999 · N9086T · Substantial damageNTSB CHI97LA306Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47 · Pipestone, MNthe fracture of the pitch control rod assembly.Sep 30, 1997 · N9005T · Substantial damageNTSB FTW97LA264Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-3B-1 · Crossett, ARfailure of maintenance personnel to perform an adequate inspection of the fuselage center frame and detect a fatigue fracture of a longeron tube on the upper left side of the center frame, which resulted in a disconnect of the tail rotor drive shaft from the…Jul 13, 1997 · N83701 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA95LA227Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTexas Helicopter OH-13E · Yakima, WAFatigue failure of the bolt attaching the scissor arm assembly to the pitch control support assembly. The failure of the bolt led to a loss of collective pitch control and reduced rotor RPM.Sep 20, 1995 · N38115 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX95LA216Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47-G5 · Coalinga, CAclutch slippage for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the helicopter's low above ground altitude, which limited the pilot's time and ability to recover main rotor rpm.Jun 18, 1995 · N7923J · DestroyedNTSB FTW95LA239Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-5 · Falfurrias, TXInadvertent installation of an unapproved part (tail rotor gear/drive assembly), that became excessively worn since it did not conform to the manufacturer's specification, resulting in failure of the associated tail rotor bearing (also an unapproved part),…May 30, 1995 · N1502L · Substantial damageNTSB CHI95LA003Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G2 · Decatur, ILthe failure of the roller springs in the freewheeling unit of the transmission which caused the unit to disengage.Oct 3, 1994 · N5193B · Substantial damageNTSB DEN93LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Duson, LAFailure of the transmission mast bearing, resulting in oil contamination and subsequent blockage of the internal oil ports and passages. Factors were: total loss of collective control and partial loss of cyclic control.Jul 30, 1993 · N9014T · Substantial damageNTSB CHI92LA137Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47-G2A · Dousman, WIThe in-flight loss of the swash plate drive link bolt which allowed the swash plate drive assembly to disconnect.Apr 30, 1992 · N52HB · Substantial damageNTSB LAX91LA369Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH12D · Sparks, NVThe encounter with rough, unsuitable terrain during a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make an autorotation after encountering an airframe vibration.Aug 25, 1991 · N100HH · Substantial damageNTSB SEA91LA077Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell BH-47G2A · Waitsburg, WAThe improper installation of the main rotor mast nut and lock washer by maintenance personnel which resulted in the separation of the main rotor system.Mar 31, 1991 · N38926 · Substantial damageNTSB MKC90LA144Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47D-1 · Fair Oaks, ARTail rotor cable disengagement due to inadequate maintenance.Jul 12, 1990 · N8117 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA89LA221Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK6C · Quitman, MSFailure of the tail boom attachment.Aug 14, 1989 · N9085T · DestroyedNTSB LAX88DUG07Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 47G-5A · Perris, CAOn liftoff, tail rotor control was lost and helicopter spun with main rotor striking terrain. Investigation revealed fatigue failure of engine mounting cage. The eng basket had failed and allowed the t/r drive shaft to pull out of the coupling. The basket had…Sep 18, 1988 · N4099G · Substantial damageNTSB FTW88LA008Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2 · Lapra, TXUpon entering a bank approx. 80 to 100 ft. off the ground, the aircraft experienced a power loss with vibration. During autorotation the aircraft contacted a tree causing substantial damage. Examination of the wreckage found the transmission clutch assembly…Oct 20, 1987 · N8403E · Substantial damageNTSB CHI86FER11Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBell 47G-5 · Brooten, MNAccording to the pilot, the helicopter collective control failed to respond to a climb input to level off after a descent for an agricultural swath run. Fire and impact damage to the helicopter was extensive, however one broken rod end in the collective…Jun 17, 1986 · N8122J · DestroyedNTSB SEA86LA089Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller 12E · Walla Walla, WAA catastrophic failure of the planetary gear of the transmission occurred about 51 flight hours after overhaul. During forced landing a hard landing occurred severing the tail boom. A fire then erupted.Mar 30, 1986 · N87595 · DestroyedNTSB MIA85LA223Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2 · Ochopee, FLThe plt stated that he dropped his passenger off at a water station in the everglades, water taxied away from the station, accellerated up to 3100 RPM & just before he added collective pitch the transmission ass'y departed the helicopter, it rolled to the…Aug 1, 1985 · N88AR · Substantial damageNTSB MIA85LA207Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportQuinn EL Tomcat MK-5A · Blakley, GAWhile en route to reposition the helicopter to another farm, the eng lost power. The plt reported that during an autorotation, the main rotor lost some RPM as he stretched his glide to avoid a fence. As the helicopter touched down on uneven terrain, the main…Jul 4, 1985 · N8429 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC83FA092Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBell B47G-2 · Anchorage, AKThe helicopter experienced a tail rotor strike during a hard landing with a door open. According to the student pilot who is a commercial pilot working on an add-on helicopter rating, the left cockpit door unlatched and partially opened on the downwind leg…Jun 7, 1983 · N6140C · Substantial damageNTSB MKC82DA151Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 47G-2A · Washington, IAThe helicopter was being air taxied to the refueling location when it crashed. The pilot said he had lifted off and was about 6 ft AGL with about 20 KTS forward speed when he suddenly felt a snap and the cyclic went full left. The helicopter became…Aug 22, 1982 · N73205 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI82DA198Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBell 47G-5A · New Philadelphi, OHWhile patrolling a powerline, the pilot heard a loud noise, similar to a gunshot, which seemed to come from directly behind the firewall. Immediately after that, the helicopter started to pitch up and roll to the right. He reported that the helicopter reached…Jun 1, 1982 · N2988W · Destroyed