Aerospatiale SA 316B N8259

Summary

On 5 July 1982 at about 03:35 local time, a Aerospatiale SA 316B registered N8259, operated by Rocky Mt Helicopter Inc, was involved in an accident near Crafton, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

5 July 1982 at 03:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Crafton, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aerospatiale SA 316B

Registration

N8259

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rocky Mt Helicopter Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crafton → Crafton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC82FGM12

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. IMMEDIATELY, THE NOSE YAWED TO THE LEFT AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTORATION AND MADE A HARD LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE AFT BEARING SUPPORT HAD TWO BOLTS MISSING AND THE THIRD BOLT WAS SHEARED BUT STILL IN THE MOUNT HOLE. THIS ALLOWED THE AFT TURBINE SECTION TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TURBINE HOUSING. EXAMINATION OF THE FIRST STAGE AXIAL COMPRESSOR REVEALED BLADE NUMBER 4 TO HAVE A PIECE MISSING FROM THE ROOT SECTION. FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT ON OTHER BLADES EXAMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.