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SEA89LA016

1988-11-04 · KETCHIKAN, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

N514RM has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (PIPER PA-28-181, built 2007), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

OUTBD 5 FEET OF TOP SKIN FROM ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEPARATED IN FLT. PLT EFFECTED LNDG WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EROSION OF LEADING EDGE PROTECTIVE STRIP ALLOWED AIRLOADS TO INTRUDE UNDER SKIN TO CAUSE DELAMINATION AND SEPARATION. SOOT TRAILS INDICATE EROSION/DEFECT PROBABLY PRESENT AT TIME OF LAST INSPECTION (1.2 HRS). Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_SEA89LA016.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.