Sikorsky S-55C accident near Coaling, Alabama, June 7, 1988
On June 7, 1988, a Sikorsky S-55C (helicopter), registered N883, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coaling, Alabama (Helicopter Pad airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1988
- Place
- Coaling, Alabama · Helicopter Pad
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-55C · all S-55Cs on the register
- Registration
- N883 · no longer on the register · serial 551015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELO WAS APPROACHING A HELIPAD FOR LANDING AFTER THE LAST AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT OF THE DAY WHEN THERE WAS A POP AND TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WAS LOST. AFTER SEVERAL ROTATIONS ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS, THE PIC LANDED THE HELO HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE PIC/OWNER SAID THE TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINK BOLT AND NUT WERE ABSENT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PIC/OWNER SAID HE HAD CHANGED THE TAIL ROTOR HUB AND THE PITCH CHANGE LINKS DURING THE WINTER, ABOUT 50 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,350 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1988; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from TCL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.