Hughes 369D N1107T

Summary

On 13 May 1982 at about 17:20 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N1107T, operated by Ronald Gohmert, was involved in an accident near 6NM Sse Wrangel, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

13 May 1982 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

6NM Sse Wrangel, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

56.4098, -131.6096

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N1107T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Ronald Gohmert

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wrangell → Wrangell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA82FA070

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT TO SURVEY A PROPOSED POWERLINE PROJECT. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT AND AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED. HE MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER TO LAND IN A CLEARANCE, BUT STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE ABOUT 35 FT AGL. THE HELICOPTER THEN TRAVELED 90 FT HORIZONTALLY AND IMPACTED ON SOFT, SLOPING MUSKEG. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES. THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS, THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN FLOWN THROUGH AT LEAST ONE AREA OF WET SNOWSHOWERS. HOWEVER, THE INTENSITY OF THE SHOWERS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED WITH AUTO-IGNITION, AN ANTI-ICE SYSTEM, AND A MODIFICATION TO THE ENGINE INLET SCREEN AND INSPECTION DOOR TO REDUCE FOD AND SNOW INGESTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.