Accident · 2015-03-13
What the record says
- Event date
- 2015-03-13
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- No injuries
- Aircraft
- AIRBUS AS350 B2 (N814EH)
- Operating rule
- Part 135
- Operator
- Erickson Helicopters, Inc. Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- ERICKSON HELICOPTERS
Probable cause
The failure of the ball bearing within the pitch change spider assembly due to its operation with no grease within the bearing, which resulted in the subsequent fracture of the spider assembly and a loss of tail rotor control authority. Also causal to the accident were the overhaul facility’s failure to follow the helicopter manufacturer’s spider assembly overhaul procedures, which resulted in the assembly leaving the facility with no grease in the bearing, and the mechanic’s failure to complete all of the tasks on the 600-flight-hour/24-month inspection checklist, which led to the lack of grease in the bearing going undetected.
Source: NTSB case ANC15LA015Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Flight instructor / Commercial | Helicopter | 36 | Class 2 (2014-04-16) | 3,122 total · 352 in this make/model · 3,050 as PIC · 20 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.