Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL88LA190

COALING, AL, USA

Aircraft #1

N883

SIKORSKY S-55C

Analysis

THE HELO WAS APPROACHING A HELIPAD FOR LANDING AFTER THE LAST AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT OF THE DAY WHEN THERE WAS A POP AND TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WAS LOST. AFTER SEVERAL ROTATIONS ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS, THE PIC LANDED THE HELO HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE PIC/OWNER SAID THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINK BOLT AND NUT WERE ABSENT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PIC/OWNER SAID HE HAD CHANGED THE TAIL ROTOR HUB AND THE PITCH CHANGE LINKS DURING THE WINTER, ABOUT 50 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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