Sharp SCORPION TOO N288JS
2 June 1994 · Beckwourth, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 2 June 1994 at about 20:00 local time, a Sharp SCORPION TOO registered N288JS, operated by James L. Sharp, was involved in an accident near Beckwourth, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Beckwourth, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.7903, -120.4609
- Aircraft
- Sharp SCORPION TOO
- Registration
- N288JS
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- James L. Sharp
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA236
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the failure of the tail rotor 'V' drive belt for undetermined reasons and the subsequent failure and separation of the tail rotor.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Ground witnesses reported that the helicopter was cruising about 200 feet agl when popping sounds were heard. Parts then came off the helicopter and it descended rapidly to impact. Witnesses on the airport indicated this was the third flight of the day and that the builder/pilot may have been performing test flights. An FAA inspector reported that the tail rotor assembly was found about 90 yards from the main wreckage along with portions of a 'V' drive belt used to power the tail rotor. Color transfers similar to the drive belt material were found on the blades. The mode of belt failure was not determined. FAA records show the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and did not hold a rotorcraft category rating. No evidence was found of a solo endorsement for helicopters. The last medical certificate issued to the pilot was dated March 8, 1988. No information was available concerning the last maintenance inspection.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |