Us/Lta 138-S N832US
25 May 1993 · Santa Maria, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 25 May 1993 at about 17:15 local time, a Us/Lta 138-S registered N832US was involved in an incident near Santa Maria, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:15
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Santa Maria, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.0398, -120.6195
- Aircraft
- Us/Lta 138-S
- Registration
- N832US
- Category
- Blimp
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Paso Robles → Chino
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX93IA235
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE SPECIFICATIONS IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF A RUDDER CONTROL TUBE ROD END BEARING BY THE AIRSHIP MANUFACTURER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRSHIP EXPERIENCE A FRACTURED ROD END BEARING DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. AN ONBOARD MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY MANIPULATE THE CONTROLS UNTIL THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ROD END BEARING REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE THREADS AT THE FRACTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE THREADS DISCLOSED THEY WERE NOT ROLLED AFTER THE MACHINING PROCESS. THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS DID NOT SPECIFY ROLLING IN THE THREADED AREAS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THE BEARING MAY HAVE BEEN BINDING AS A RESULT OF TEFLON IN THE BEARING AREA ADHERING TO THE METAL SURFACE CONTRIBUTING TO THE STRESSES THAT MAY HAVE FATIGUED THE ROD END BEARING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Us/Lta 138 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1993 | Us/Lta 138S AIRSHIP | New York, New York, United States | Us/Lta Corporation | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1993 | Cessna 310H | Lancaster, California, United States | Yehiem Konski | Fatal | 6 |
| 14 Nov 1993 | Cessna 182 | Colusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1993 | Cessna 172P | Sun City, California, United States | Hiser Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1993 | Robinson R44 | El Monte, California, United States | Benjamin F. Venti, SR. | Fatal | 3 |
| 17 Nov 1993 | Piper PA-38-112 | Fresno, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1993 | Beechcraft A35 | Tulare, California, United States | Rent and Lease Programs | Fatal | 2 |