Jul 12, 2003
Accident
Destroyed Rancho P.Verdes, CA
Injuries1 serious
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 133
Probable Cause
A total loss of antitorque control, due to the fatigue-induced failure of a gear within the drive shaft's intermediate gear box (IGB). Contributing factors were the pilot's improper on-ground decision to continue flight operations following discovery of material on the IGB's chip plug, and his failure to immediately jettison the external load.
NTSB LAX03FA232