Sikorsky S-58D accident near Juneau, Alaska, May 21, 1990
On May 21, 1990 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58D (helicopter), registered N94495, was destroyed in an accident near Juneau, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 SEGMENT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1990 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58D · all S-58Ds on the register
- Registration
- N94495 · registry record · serial 58-730
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WHILE AT A HIGH HOVER WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD OF LOGS. THE ACFT BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND WHILE IN A SPIN. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A FRACTURE OF THE NO. 3 SEGMENT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSY.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,242 hours in all; 184 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 4,100 as pilot in command; 41 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,605 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 11, 1990; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Curtis Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from JNU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N94495 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.