Sikorsky S-58ET accident near Santa Ana, California, April 15, 1989
On April 15, 1989 at about 1:33 am local time, a Sikorsky S-58ET (helicopter), registered N1168U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR RESULTING FROM EXCESSIVE LOADING DURING GROUND OPERATIONS, AND FATIGUE CRACKING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1989 · about 1:33 am local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58ET · all S-58ETs on the register
- Registration
- N1168U · registry record · serial 58-1070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE CARGO WAS LOADED, AND AS THE PILOT GROUND TAXIED OVER A CONCRETE DRAINAGE DEPRESSION IN THE RAMP, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE GEAR TUBE AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED LANDING GEAR STRUT REVEALED PRE-EXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE INSIDE THE GEAR LEG EXTENDING FROM MULTIPLE ORIGINS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS CORROSION PITTING AND REMNANT TOOLING MARKS ON THE SURFACE FINISH OF THE LOWER GEAR TUBE INSIDE DIAMETER. THE PITTED AND CORRODED CONDITION OF THE TUBE INSIDE DIAMETER INDICATED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL INTRUSION OF THE CORROSION PREVENTATIVE MATERIAL MAY HAVE OCCURRED DURING SERVICE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS 951 POUNDS OVER CERTIFICATED MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT.
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, military
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,653 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,473 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,715 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 14, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6T-6 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA at 1:33 am
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from SNA
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.
Other NTSB records under N1168U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.