KEYSTONE, SD, USA
N5410W
HUGHES 369HS
MAIN ROTOR HUB WAS OVERHAULED BY A REPAIR STATION THAT WAS NOT AUTHROIZED BY HUGHES HELICOPTERS FOR HUB OVERHAULS. THE MAIN ROTOR HUB AND BLADES SEPARATED IN-FLT 279 HRS AFTER OVERHAUL. THE ACFT CRASHED IN A DENSILY WOODED AREA. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM REVEALED THE TORSION-TENSION STRAP PACK FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE STAINLESS STEEL LAMINANTS. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION PITTING IN THE LAMINANTS. THE CORROSION PITS WERE THE ORIGIN OF FATIGUE CRACKS. THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF LAMINANT FAILURES IN ANY ONE STRAP IS 3. THE FAILED STRAP PACK CONTAINED 9 FATIGUE FAILED LAMINANTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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