Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 N355EH
4 November 1988 · W. Cameron 617 · Fatal
Summary
On 4 November 1988 at about 12:51 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 registered N355EH was involved in an accident near W. Cameron 617. 6 people were on board and 4 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:51
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- W. Cameron 617
- Nearest airport
- W. Cameron 617 (WC61)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355F-1
- Registration
- N355EH
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- W. Cameron 617 → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW89FA013
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH OCCURRED WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT EXPERIENCED A FATIGUE INDUCED MATERIAL FAILURE AND TAIL ROTOR THRUST WAS LOST. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE SHAFT WAS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THE LOADS THAT WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
ACFT WAS DEPARTING AN ELEVATED HELIDECK ON AN OFFSHORE PRODUCTION PLATFORM WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR THRUST AND ACFT CONTROL DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE PLT INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF WITH THE ACFT HAVING JUST CLEARED THE DECK AND RECOVERY WAS NOT POSSIBLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING IN AN AREA OF FRETTING WHERE THE SHAFT WAS BONDED AND BOLTED TO ITS COUPLING. THIS AND PREVIOUS FAILURES IN THE SAME AREA INDICATED THAT THE SHAFT WAS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THE APPLICATION AND NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES. SHAFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RE-DESIGNED AND THE FLEET RETROFITTED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS-355F accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1987 | Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 | Ship Shoal 214C | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 May 1986 | Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 | Kameula, Hawaii, United States | Hemmeter Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 1986 | Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 | Galveston, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 1986 | Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 | Morgan City, Louisiana, United States | Mobil Oil Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1985 | Aerospatiale AS 355F-1 | Sabine Pass, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1985 | Aerospatiale AS-355F | Chamblee, Georgia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |