NEAR BRIDEPORT, CA, USA
N9829C
AEROSPATIALE SA316B
AFTER TAKING OFF IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA, THE PILOT BEGAN CLIMBING IN UP-CURRENTS ON THE SIDE OF A CANYON. WHILE FOLLOWING A RIDGE AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL (11,000 FT MSL), HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A SHUDDER AND VIBRATIONS. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN DESCENDING RAPIDLY. THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD THE RIDGE AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN A SNOWFIELD. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL FILTER COVER OF THE GEAR BOX HAD SEPARATED. A TAPERED PIN WHICH WAS USED TO SECURE THE COVER HAD SHEARED FROM OVERLOAD. A DISASSEMBLY OF THE MAIN TRANSMISSION REVEALED THAT THE LOWER PLANETARY GEAR HAD FAILED FROM OIL STARVATION. ONLY 20 MM OF OIL WAS FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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