N985SA
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari Aviation, Inc. (XSFA) | Operator | on 2019-12-26 | Operator named in NTSB report |
| Safari Helicopter, Inc. | Operator | on 2001-02-01 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Operated by Safari Aviation Inc. (per NTSB report)
Operated by Safari Helicopter, Inc. (per NTSB report)
Maintenance disclosures
Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA for this airframe. Filing is largely voluntary — the number of reports is not a measure of reliability. To verify a report, search its control number at the FAA SDRS site.
2 reports on file, 2000-06-06 – 2013-10-05.
Part: GYRO — FAILED (DIRECTIONAL) · airframe 15,732 hrs · 21,122 cycles
PILOT REPORTED AN ELECTRICAL TYPE BURNING ODOR FOLLOWED BY LIGHT WISPS OF SMOKE FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOOD. FLIGHT WAS ABORTED, AND A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE, WHERE THE ACFT WAS SHUTDOWN AND REMOVED FROM SERVICE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY MAINTENANCE IT WAS DETERMINED THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO HAD OVERHEATED. THE AFT COVER OF THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO HAD CRACKED ALLOWING OVERHEATED GREASE TO SEEP FROM THE CASE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GREASE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR, AND WAS PRESUMED TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHT SMOKE. INSPECTION OF ALL THE OTHER INSTRUMENT SYS REVEALED NO OTHER DAMAGE. THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS DISABLED, AND THE ACFT WAS GROUND RUN WITH ALL SYSTEMS RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED NORMAL, WITH NO FURTHER INDICATION OF ODOR, OR SMOKE. A SHORT MAINTENANCE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED TO RETURN THE ACFT TO BASE. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED NORMAL, WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. A SERVICEABLE DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS INSTALLED, AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Part: SEAL — LEAKING (MAIN ROTOR INPUT)
INPUT SEAL, MAIN ROTOR GEARBOX, LEAKING POST LIP. (X)