Hughes 369D N58395

Summary

On 15 February 1985 at about 02:50 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N58395, operated by Sunair Copters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii, 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

15 February 1985 at 02:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hilo, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

21.4607, -158.0594

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N58395

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Sunair Copters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hilo → Kahului

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX85FJA03

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 TAIL BOOM WAS DAMAGED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DURING A FORCED AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF 4500 FT MSL, THE ENG N2 DROPPED TO 92% AND APRX 15 SECONDS LATER, THE ENG FLAMED OUT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HELICOPTER WAS FUELED WITH AVGAS INSTEAD OF TURBINE FUEL JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE ENG OPERATING MANUAL APPROVES OF THIS FUEL SUBSTITUTION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, HOWEVER, IT ADVISED THAT WHEN AVGAS IS USED, THE FUEL BOOST PUMP MUST BE LEFT ON. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECALL WHETHER OR NOT THE PUMP WAS ON.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.