HARTSHORN, OK, USA
N3835W
AEROSPATIALE AS 315B
THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING FOLLOWING AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHILE IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 1000 FT AGL, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD SCREECH FROM THE ENGINE AREA FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. A WINGMAN OBSERVED 10 FT FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST. A HARD AUTOROTATIVE LANDING RESULTED WHEN THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO STRETCH THE GLIDE TO A MORE SUITABLE LANDING AREA. THE PLT THEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING AN ONBOARD EXTINGUISHER. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE AXIAL COMPRESSOR SECTION TRACED THE COMPRESSOR BLADE FAILURE TO AN IMPROPER RETAINING PIN WHICH CAUSED A STRESS CONCENTRATION IN THE COMPRESSOR BLADE ROOT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PIN WAS INSTALLED DURING THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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