Sikorsky S-55C N883

Summary

On 7 June 1988 at about 00:45 local time, a Sikorsky S-55C registered N883, operated by Morris, ROY L., was involved in an accident near Coaling, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

7 June 1988 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Coaling, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Helicopter Pad

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-55C

Registration

N883

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Morris, ROY L.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL88LA190

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.