Kaman K-1200 accident near Keller, Washington, July 26, 2003
On July 26, 2003, a Kaman K-1200 (helicopter), registered N314KA, was destroyed in an accident near Keller, Washington. It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Corrosion fatigue within the blade retention bolt bushing(s) of the main rotor blade grip resulting in fatigue, cracking and ultimate separation of the upper grip plate. The separation of the upper blade grip plate led to a dynamic imbalance within the rotor system and the subsequent loss of all four rotor blades in flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2003
- Place
- Keller, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kaman K-1200
- Registration
- N314KA · no longer on the register · serial A940015
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to pick up a load of water while engaged in firefighting operations. The helicopter was in cruise flight when the pilot radioed "I've got a problem" and "I'm going down." Witnesses observed rotor blades departing from the helicopter. On site examination revealed that all four main rotor blades had departed from their respective rotor hub/blade grip units coming to rest in a circumferential band within several hundred feet of the helicopter's ground impact point. Both main rotor hubs also departed the airframe and were located a short distance north and east of the ground impact site. Post crash examination revealed the presence of extensive corrosion fatigue cracking in the upper half of the blade grip plate associated with blade (s/n) 27B. The crack passed through the 7th blade retention bolt hole from the inboard section of the grip leaving the blade attached at the upper blade grip plate by one bolt inboard of the crack and 5 bolts outboard of the crack. The crack displayed corrosion fatigue striations through most of its surface. The number 7 blade retention bolt bushing was also found to have corrosion fatigue cracking in line with the grip crack. With a crack through the inboard section of the upper blade grip plate occurring, the rigidity of the associated blade (27B) would have been significantly weakened in the vertical axis and dynamic imbalance would have developed leading to successive separation of all four blades.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,200 hours in all; 5,100 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 11,292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,583.4 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 24, 2003; 5.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell (Lycoming) T5317A-1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: US Department Of Interior (Bureau Indian Affairs)
The flight
- Departed from: Keller WA at 10:50 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from GEG, 56 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.