Hughes 369D N5108E

Summary

On 31 March 1989 at about 01:25 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N5108E, operated by Helinet, Inc., was involved in an accident near Vallejo, California, 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

31 March 1989 at 01:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Vallejo, California, United States

Coordinates

38.0893, -122.2491

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N5108E

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helinet, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Novato → Concord

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA141

Nobody was injured.

FATIGUE FAILURE OF A DEFECTIVE PC TUBE ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING AN AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHT ENGINE POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST & THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO A LANDING ON A WET MARSH. AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST THE MAIN ROTORS SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE PC TUBE ASSEMBLY, P/N 6848471, HAD FAILED AT THE SCROLL FITTING FERRULE, & THIS BROKEN LINE CONDITION PRODUCED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PC TUBE HAD A TOTAL OF 11.8 HOURS OF USE SINCE BEING INSTALLED/MANUFACTURED. A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE PC TUBE HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.