Mar 7, 2024
Accident
Substantial West Lafayette, IN
InjuriesNone
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 135
Probable Cause
The failure of maintenance personnel to properly install the tail rotor pitch change slider attachment hardware (T-bolt), which led to the disconnection of the pitch change slider, a loss of tail rotor control, and subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to complete a maintenance discrepancy entry on the work order for the removal of the T-bolt.
NTSB CEN24LA128