FTW85FA100

Factual narrative

THE ACFT DEPARTED AT 2040 CST AS A FLT OF 2 ON A FERRY FLT. SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL-OFF AT 700 FT AND POWER STABILIZED AT 72% TORQUE THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE ACFT YAWED LEFT AND RIGHT. AN AUTORATION WAS INITIATED INTO A SOFT PLOWED FIELD WITH A SLIGHT DOWN-SLOPE. UPON TOUCHDOWN, ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE NOSE ROCKED FORWARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM AT THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. ENGINE DISASSEMBLY REVEALED FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 BEARING FOR UNKNOWN SPECIFIC CAUSE. BEARING FAILURE ALLOWED THE COMPRESSOR IMPELLER TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE COMPRESSOR SHROUD HOUSING INNER DIAMETER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12