Kaman K-600 N286M
20 November 2003 · Nordman, Idaho, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 20 November 2003 at about 23:45 local time, a Kaman K-600 registered N286M was involved in an accident near Nordman, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 23:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Nordman, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 48.6533, -116.8150
- Aircraft
- Kaman K-600
- Registration
- N286M
- 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
- Priest Lake → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA04LA019
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The total failure of the helicopter's right main rotor shaft while in an ascending hover due to the propagation of a fatigue crack that initiated in a corrosion pit on the surface of a slot in the wall of the subject shaft. Factors include accumulation of corrosion on the surface of the shaft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While ascending in a hover to take the slack out of a long-line, the Part 137 logging helicopter experienced the complete failure of its right main rotor mast (shaft). An NTSB metallurgical inspection determined that the mast had failed due to the propagation of a fatigue crack that originated on the inside surface of an opening in the shaft wall (L-crank slot). The fatigue crack originated in two shallow corrosion pits (0.0033 and 0.0029 of an inch wide) on the inner surface of the L-crank slot. Although the shaft had been overhauled/inspected approximately 1,000 hours prior to the accident (1,200 hour interval), the Military Technical Order that regulates the overhaul of this mast does not address a specific inspection for corrosion, nor how to address any corrosion that is detected.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Kaman K-600 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 2002 | Kaman K-600 (HH-43B) | Cocolalla, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Apr 1973 | Kaman K-600 | Pilot Rock, Oregon, United States | Command Helico | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1972 | Kaman K-600 | Toutle, Washington, United States | Command Helico | No injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1972 | Kaman K-600 | Worley, Idaho, United States | Command Helico | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1972 | Kaman K-600 | Orovada, Nevada, United States | REX O.williams | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1971 | Kaman K-600 | Orovada, Nevada, United States | REX Williams | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-28-180 | Nampa, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Sep 2003 | Beechcraft T-34 (A-45) | McCall, Idaho, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 2003 | Globe GC-1B | Cottonwood, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 2003 | Wood AVID MAGNUM | Kooskia, Idaho, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Aviat A-1 | Atlanta, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Cirrus SR-20 | Fish Haven, Idaho, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |