Hughes 369D (500) N8693F

Summary

On 30 September 1983 at about 17:00 local time, a Hughes 369D (500) registered N8693F was involved in an accident near Provo, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

30 September 1983 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Provo, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.2195, -111.6902

Aircraft

Hughes 369D (500)

Registration

N8693F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN83FA224

Nobody was injured.

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 HELICOPTER WAS ON A TEST FLT TO TRACK & BALANCE THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM & TO COMPLETE A 100 HR INSPECTION. PRIOR TO THE FLT, AN OCCASIONAL FLICKER OF THE FUEL FILTER LIGHT WAS NOTED, BUT IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM. AFTER TAKING OFF, THE FUEL FILTER LIGHT FLICKERED ON A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT NEVER ILLUMINATED STEADILY. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE OF FLYING TIME, THE PLT FELT 2 QUICK 'JERKS' (YAWS). HE START A 180 DEG TURN TO LAND. AFTER 90 DEG OF TURN, THE N2 DECREASED TO 95%, THEN SURGED TO 105%, THEN THE ENG QUIT RUNNING. THE PLT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT DURING LANDING ON SOFT, WET TERRAIN, THE HELICOPTER ROCKED FORWARD & THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED A 'B' NUT ON 1 OF 2 DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE LINES (CONNECTED TO THE FUEL FILTER DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SWITCH) WAS LOOSE. DURING THE EXAM, THE 'B' NUT SEPARATED FROM ITS ATTACH POINT BY A 1/2 TURN USING FINGER PRESSURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.