Sikorsky S-58ET N1168U
15 April 1989 · Santa Ana, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 15 April 1989 at about 01:33 local time, a Sikorsky S-58ET registered N1168U was involved in an accident near Santa Ana, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:33
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Santa Ana, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- John Wayne (SNA)
- Coordinates
- 33.6701, -117.9002
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58ET
- Registration
- N1168U
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Los Angeles
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX89FA160
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR RESULTING FROM EXCESSIVE LOADING DURING GROUND OPERATIONS, AND FATIGUE CRACKING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER THE CARGO WAS LOADED, AND AS THE PILOT GROUND TAXIED OVER A CONCRETE DRAINAGE DEPRESSION IN THE RAMP, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE GEAR TUBE AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED LANDING GEAR STRUT REVEALED PRE-EXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE INSIDE THE GEAR LEG EXTENDING FROM MULTIPLE ORIGINS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS CORROSION PITTING AND REMNANT TOOLING MARKS ON THE SURFACE FINISH OF THE LOWER GEAR TUBE INSIDE DIAMETER. THE PITTED AND CORRODED CONDITION OF THE TUBE INSIDE DIAMETER INDICATED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL INTRUSION OF THE CORROSION PREVENTATIVE MATERIAL MAY HAVE OCCURRED DURING SERVICE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 951 POUNDS OVER CERTIFICATED MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Sikorsky S-58ET accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 1986 | Sikorsky S-58ET | Becker, Minnesota, United States | Helicopter Corp. | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Aug 1992 | Sikorsky S-58ET | North Platte, Nebraska, United States | Crescent Airways, Inc. | Unknown | - |
| 20 Apr 1985 | Sikorsky S-58ET | Gulf of Mexico | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 10 Jul 2002 | Sikorsky S-58ET | Brookville, Indiana, United States | Midwest Helicopter Airways | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Sikorsky S-58ET | Rancho P.Verdes, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 2011 | Sikorsky S-58ET | El Segundo, California, United States | Aris Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-31-350 | Ontario, California, United States | Ameriflight | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Sep 1989 | Piper PA-25-235 | Warner Springs, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 1989 | Cessna 310K | Ojai, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Sep 1989 | Cessna 182 | Eureka, California, United States | Nothern Air | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1989 | Cessna 152 | Lancaster, California, United States | West Coast Air Center | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Sep 1989 | Bellanca 17-30A | Palo Alto, California, United States | Klouda, Linda K. | Minor injuries | - |