Hughes 369D N52934

Summary

On 10 July 1984 at about 02:00 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N52934, operated by Custom Aire, Inc., was involved in an accident near Franklin, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

10 July 1984 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Franklin, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.8804, -86.9497

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N52934

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Custom Aire, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

ATL84FA218

1 person was seriously 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 ACFT LANDED HARD & ROLLED OVER DURING AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION LNDG AFTER THE ACFT ENG EXPERIENCED A FLAME-OUT. THEACFT HAD EXPERIENCED A LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT EARLIER IN THE FLT AND THE PLT HAD MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AFTER WHICH HE AND THE PASSENGER CARRIED 2 FIVE GALLON CANS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE TO THE ACFT AND POURED THEM INTO THE JET HELICOPTER FUEL TANK. AFTER ENG START AND TAKEOFF FROM THE FARM FIELD THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 1800 FT AGL BEFORE 'SHUDDERING' WITH A SUBSEQUENT ENG FLAME-OUT. THE PLT MADE AN AUTOROTATION AND SAID HE 'THOUGH HE LOST DEPTH PERCEPTION' WHEN HE TURNED ON THE LNDG LIGHTS. THE HOBBS METER SHOWED 3.5 HRS FOR A SERIES OF 8 FLTS SINCE THE LAST REFUELING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE USED BY THE PLT IS NOT AN APPROVED ALTERNATE FUEL FOR THIS ENG/ACFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.