Sikorsky S-76A N8063R

Summary

On 19 April 2006 at about 22:20 local time, a Sikorsky S-76A registered N8063R was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 10 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 April 2006 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

West Houston Aorport (KIWS)

Coordinates

29.8298, -95.6590

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-76A

Registration

N8063R

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

High Island 139 → Houston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06LA093

Nobody was injured.

The failure by maintenance personnel to secure the tail rotor driveshaft cowling after performing maintenance which resulted in a loss of tail rotor control. A contributing factor was the pilot's improper preflight inspection of the tail rotor driveshaft area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot completed a successful landing to a hover and taxied to a point on the airport ramp to complete the flight mission. While at a stable hover, while preparing to set the twin-engine helicopter on the ground, the aircraft entered an uncommanded spin to the right. The copilot stated that the helicopter made 3 full 360-degree turns to the right prior to making ground contact. Lateral forces due to the spin caused the left main landing gear to collapse and all 4 main rotor blades to contact the ground. The aircraft remained upright and the pilot, copilot, and all 8 passengers were not injured. On scene investigation by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the cowling that covered the first section of the tail rotor drive shaft had not been secured and had contacted the shaft severing it in two. The helicopter had recently had maintenance performed and the cowling was left unsecured. The flight crew failed to notice the loose cowling during their preflight inspection prior to departure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.