Hughes 269C N300PP

Summary

On 13 March 1989 at about 12:20 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N300PP was involved in an accident near Bexley, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 March 1989 at 12:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Bexley, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.9498, -82.9298

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N300PP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbus → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89LA100

Nobody was injured.

THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS DAMAGE WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. AN AUTOROTATION WAS EXECUTED TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE TAILBOOM WAS SEVERED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NO. 1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED.FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DAMAGED PREVIOUSLY OVERSPED ABOUT 60 HOURS PRIOR THE EXHAUST VALVE FAILURE. ENGINE MAINTENANCE RECORDS CONTAINED NO EVIDENCE OF AN OVERSPEED INSPECTION BUT DID REVEAL THAT THE NO. 2 CYLINDER WAS REMOVED BECAUSE OF OIL FOULING. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED TWO TENTHS OF AN HOUR AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER AND SUFFERED FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.