ATLANTA, GA, USA
N5004F
BELL 206B
DRG TAKEOFF FROM A HELIPAD AT DUSK, THE ENG LOST PWR AS THE HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 75' AGL. THE PLT INITIATEDAN AUTOROTATION TO A PARKING LOT, WHICH REQUIRED THE USE OF COLLECTIVE TO REACH THE LOT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER HIT AN ELECTRICAL WIRE OVER THE PARKING LOT, THEN CRASHED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE TURBINE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. ALUMINUM RICH METAL DEBRIS WAS FOUND BLOCKING THE OIL DELIVERY TUBE TO THE GEARSHAFT; THE OIL INLET SCREEN FILTER WAS MISSING; AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING & EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE GEARSHAFT SPLINES. THE 100 HR INSPN CHECKLIST FOR THE ENG REQUIRED THE REMOVAL & INSPN OF THE ENG OIL SYS FILTER. WITH THE FILTER REMOVED, THERE WAS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT OIL DELIVERY TUBE & THE OIL TUBE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY CUP FILTER.
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT IN AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS A LACK OF LUBRICATION (OIL STARVATION) DUE TO A PARTIALLY BLOCKED OIL DELIVERY TUBE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INATTENTIVE MAINTENANCE OR SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, AND THE ELECTRICAL (TRANSMISSION) WIRE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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