Robinson R-44 N972SA

Summary

On 23 January 1998 at about 03:30 local time, a Robinson R-44 registered N972SA, operated by Spencer Gordon, was involved in an incident near Miami, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 January 1998 at 03:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Kendall Tamiami Executive (TMB)

Coordinates

25.6492, -80.4103

Aircraft

Robinson R-44

Registration

N972SA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Spencer Gordon

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98IA039

Nobody was injured.

An inadequate service bulletin which did not require measurement of the cyclic trim assembly shaft and did not identify all helicopters in which shaft wear could lead to restricted movement of the lateral cyclic trim.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, as he was attempting to land, he was unable to apply left cyclic. The pilot made a run-on landing, using right turns, without further incident. Further examination of the cyclic revealed that the lateral trim actuator shaft was worn and lodged in the guide bearing, thus interfering with the surrounding structure. After this incident, the inspection criteria for the lateral cyclic trim system was reviewed. The criteria did not include a measurement of the shaft wear. There was a service bulletin, SB-19, that dealt with excessive shaft wear on Robinson R-44 helicopters, but it did not apply to the incident helicopter. Subsequent to this incident, a new Service Bulletin, SB-26, was released for R-44 helicopters, which stated that the lateral cyclic trim assembly shaft, P/N C585-1, should be measured in several places. If the shaft diameter varies more than 0.004 inches in any 0.50 inch of length, the assembly should be replaced before further flight. After the release of SB-26, a priority Airworthiness Directive (AD), AD 98-04-12, was issued to require compliance with the terms of SB-26.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.