Kaman HH-43F N846D
12 May 1993 · Anatone, Washington, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 12 May 1993 at about 14:15 local time, a Kaman HH-43F registered N846D, operated by Woody Contracting, Inc, was involved in an accident near Anatone, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Anatone, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 46.0791, -117.2695
- Aircraft
- Kaman HH-43F
- Registration
- N846D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Woody Contracting, Inc
- 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
- SEA93LA105
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ROTOR TRANSMISSION DRIVE SYSTEM, RESULTING FROM THE IMPROPER CERTIFICATION/APPROVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT MODIFICATION BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE CONVERTED MILITARY HELICOPTER WAS IN A HOVER LIFTING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OF LOGS WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR PYLONS SEPARATED IN FLIGHT, RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLED INVERTED DESCENT INTO THE GROUND. ON-SCENE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ROTOR INPUT GEAR SHAFT, P/N K774515-5F, HAD FRACTURED. SAFETY BOARD METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF FATIGUE FAILURE, AND INDICATED REPETITIVE HIGH LOADS. THE FAA TYPE-CERTIFICATE, BASED ON MILITARY CONFIGURATION, LISTS THE APPROVED ENGINE AS 1100 SHP, AND THE EXTERNAL LOAD LIMIT AS 2,300 LBS. THE FAA HAD APPROVED INSTALLATION OF A 1400 SHP ENGINE, AND OPERATIONS WITH AN INCREASED EXTERNAL LOAD LIMIT OF 4,000 LBS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Kaman HH-43F accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1992 | Kaman HH-43F | Manteo, North Carolina, United States | Precision Lift, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 30 Oct 1994 | Kaman HH-43F | Willits, California, United States | Skyhook, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1992 | Kaman HH-43F | Headquarters, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Sep 1999 | Kaman HH-43F | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Feb 1982 | Kaman HH-43F | Sutherlin, Oregon, United States | Donald Lederhos | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 2006 | Kaman HH-43F | Metaline Falls, Washington, United States | Horizon Helicopters | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jan 1993 | Cessna A185F | Inglewood, Washington, United States | Johnson, Everett H. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Feb 1993 | Cessna 120 | Battleground, Washington, United States | Wills, Charles R. | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1993 | Beechcraft C-99 | Seattle, Washington, United States | Ameriflight, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Apr 1993 | Cessna 172C | Darrington, Washington, United States | Roulier, Brent L. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Jul 1993 | Piper PA-34-220T | Battleground, Washington, United States | Flightcraft Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Aug 1993 | Enstrom F-28C | Seattle, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |