WEST BAY, FL, USA
N49504
AEROSPATIALE SA-315-B
THE ACFT CRASHED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WHILE ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD AGRICULTURAL FLT. WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT AT A LOADING AREA THE ACFT STARTED SPINNING, THE EXT LOAD WAS JETTISONED, AND THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PITCH CHANGE DRUM, PN 3160566-00-009-1, WAS WORN THROUGHOUT ITS INTERIOR ALUMINUM SPLINES. THE PITCH CONTROL DRUM HAD BEEN REMOVED ON AUG 9, 1984 AND THE ACFT MANUAL STATES THAT EACH TIME THE DRUM IS REMOVED IT IS TO BE VISUALLY CHECKED FOR WEAR. BETWEEN AUG 9 AND OCT 29 1984, THE ACFT WAS EXPOSED TO 236.9 HRS OF OPERATING TIME.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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