Aug 12, 1996
Accident
Substantial COEUR D'ALENE, ID
Injuries1 serious
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 133
Probable Cause
Fatigue fracture of the left forward vertical stabilizer spar, resulting in loss of the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor and subsequent loss of control. A factor was insufficient applicability (by make and model) of an existing FAA airworthiness directive (AD 71-21-02) which mandated repetitive crack inspections in the area of the fracture.
NTSB SEA96FA187