Hughes 369D N10995

Summary

On 29 April 1987 at about 18:39 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N10995, operated by Adriatic Sea, was involved in an accident near Tamunings, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 April 1987 at 18:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Tamunings, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N10995

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Adriatic Sea

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tamunings → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX87LA199

2 people died.

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

A HUGHES 369D, OPERATED OFF OF A FISHING VESSEL, WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, NR GUAM. THE ACCIDENT WAS WITNESSED BY THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN. HIS STATEMENT INDICATED ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED IN FLT WHILE THE HELO WAS ORBITING THE SHIP AT APRX 200 FT MSL. DURING AN EARLIER FLT A VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS EXPERIENCED. THE DISCREPANCY WAS REFERRED TO THE A&P MECHANIC ON THE BOAT, WHO WORKED ON THE HELO FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR WITH THE PLT. THE HELO WAS THEN TEST FLOWN. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE HUGHES 369D ARE ATTACHED TO THE MAIN ROTOR HUB WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETENTION STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER OUTLINES A PROCEDURE DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT MAIN ROTOR HUB COMPONENT CORROSION ON HELICOPTERS OPERATED IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS. RECORDS MAINTAINED AT THE HELO MAINTENANCE BASED REVEALED THAT SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROCEDURE ON BOARD THE SHIP. THE ACFT WAS NOT RECOVERED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.