Oregon UH-1L N157LC
14 June 1989 · Baring, Washington, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 14 June 1989 at about 18:50 local time, a Oregon UH-1L registered N157LC was involved in an accident near Baring, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Baring, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 47.7297, -121.4902
- Aircraft
- Oregon UH-1L
- Registration
- N157LC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Baring → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA89FA111
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR 42 DEGREE GEAR BOX DUE TO PILOT INDUCED OVERSTRESS. NAVY DATA AND FAA TYPE CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS WERE NOT ADHERED TO.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE LIFTING A LOG THE CREW HEARD UNUSUAL NOISES & FELT VIBRATIONS. THEY RELEASED THE LOG & FLEW TO A LANDING SITE TO CHECK THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE AT A HIGH HOVER THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN SPINNING AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILED TAIL ROTOR 42 DEG GEARBOX. THE BOARD'S METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE GEARBOX'S INPUT SPIRAL BEVEL GEAR HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE ENG N2 TORQUE WAS RED-LINED AT 55 LBS. PILOT STATED THAT A DASH-5 TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED RATED FOR 60 LBS, BUT OBSERVED MARKED 55 LB LIMIT. NAVY OPERATORS MANUAL AND FAA TYPE CERTIFICATE BOTH LIST N2 TORQUE LIMIT AS 50 LBS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D | Vancouver, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1989 | Cessna 140 | Amboy, Washington, United States | Larry Cahoon | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1989 | Cessna 172 | Bremerton, Washington, United States | Flight Tech, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Cessna A-185-F | Seattle, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Raymond, Washington, United States | Glacier Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1989 | Aero Commander 600 S-2D | Walla Walla, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |