Sikorsky CH-54A accident near Yucca Valley, CA

On July 18, 1998, a Sikorsky CH-54A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Yucca Valley, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 18, 1998

Place

Yucca Valley, CA

Aircraft

Sikorsky CH-54A · Helicopter

Injuries

3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

34.150°N, 116.271°W

NTSB ID

20001211X10621

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 18, 1998, at 1625 hours Pacific daylight time, a Sikorsky CH-54A, N64KL, crashed near Yucca Valley, California, after experiencing a main rotor blade separation and a subsequent in-flight explosion and fire. The aircraft was destroyed and the three crewmembers received fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a repositioning flight by Heavy Lift Helicopters under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The last leg of the flight to Apple Valley, California, originated in Blythe, California, about 1543 on the same day. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the cruising altitude and a company flight plan was filed. The chief pilot and his copilot, who were in the second aircraft in a flight of two, reported that they were flying west along a heading of 285 degrees about 110 knots indicated airspeed (IAS). They were in loose trail, about .25 to .50 miles behind and above the lead aircraft, about 5,000 feet msl, when they saw a rectangular shaped object suddenly separate from the lead aircraft's 7 to 8 o'clock position. The lead air aircraft then reacted by abruptly spinning 180 degrees to the right. As the aircraft turned, the tailboom collapsed and folded downward and to the right, near the position of the aft end of the auxiliary fuel tank. This was accompanied by an explosion and fire that engulfed the aft portion of the aircraft. The aircraft's nose pitched up briefly about 10 to 15 degrees and then nosed over as the aircraft rolled to the right about 60 to 70 degrees. The aircraft continued to rotate about its longitudinal ax

Probable cause

An in-flight main rotor blade spar separation as a result of the pilot-in-command's decision to continue to fly the aircraft after it had failed an AD directed BIM check. Factors were the failure of the operator's chief pilot to maintain proper supervision over the operation of a company aircraft with a known grounding deficiency and the improper repair to the main rotor blade by unknown persons,

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.