Sikorsky H-34J N4556D

Summary

On 15 September 1989 at about 14:00 local time, a Sikorsky H-34J registered N4556D, operated by Clifton D. McGowan, was involved in an accident near Louisville, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 1989 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

32.9899, -82.3992

Aircraft

Sikorsky H-34J

Registration

N4556D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Clifton D. McGowan

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89LA212

Nobody was injured.

AN UNDETERMINED MALFUNCTION OF THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A LOGGING OPERATION, A JERKING MOTION WAS NOTED WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING AT 200 FEET. THE MOTION OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE PILOT EJECTED THE LONG LINE AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING, BUT THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN A SWAMPY AREA AND BURNED. IT WAS NOT RECOVERED, BUT THE ENGINE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING PROPERLY THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY. THE PILOT SUSPECTED THAT THE FREE WHEELING UNIT HAD FAILED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.