Bell 212 N212HQ

Summary

On 29 January 2000 at about 22:00 local time, a Bell 212 registered N212HQ was involved in an accident near Mt Pleasant, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 January 2000 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mt Pleasant, Utah, United States

Coordinates

39.5509, -111.3903

Aircraft

Bell 212

Registration

N212HQ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00LA045

1 person was seriously injured.

Failure of the main rotor mast due to fatigue that resulted from inadequate quality assurance during the manufacturing process.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in level flight approximately 120 feet above ground level, carrying an external load of logs, the main rotor mast separated from the helicopter. The fuselage descended into a tree covered slope and broke into three sections. The pilot received serious injuries. Laboratory examination of the main rotor mast provided evidence the mast failed in fatigue at the lower ring groove of the damper splines where burrs were left during machining of the part. Retirement requirements for the mast were 15,000 flight hours or 300,000 RIN (retirement index number). The mast had 5,644.4 hours with the last overhaul being done at 3,660.8 hours. The FAA calculated the RIN number to be 291,065.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.