Hughes 269B N11XC
18 July 1991 · Brickeys, Arkansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 18 July 1991 at about 12:25 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N11XC, operated by Southern Flying Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near Brickeys, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Brickeys, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.8491, -90.5806
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B
- Registration
- N11XC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Southern Flying Service, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Memphis → Star City
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW91FA123
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE DUE TO FRAYING WHICH INITIATED THE FORCED LANDING AND THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PERFORM RECOMMENDED INSPECTIONS ON THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED VERTICALLY IN A HEAVILY WOODED SWAMP. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WITH A HIGH VERTICAL RATE OF DESCENT AND LOW ROTOR RPM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE BELT DRIVE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT CABLE HAD SEPARATED DUE TO ABRASION CAUSED BY INTERNAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE CABLE AND ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS. SEPARATION OF THE CABLE RESULTED IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION. REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE EXACT TOTAL TIME ON THE CABLE; HOWEVER, THE RECORDS DID INDICATE THAT THE CABLE HAD LAST BEEN DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED ABOUT 636.8 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE INFORMATION NOTICE HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE CABLE ASSEMBLY WHICH REQUIRED AN INITIAL INSPECTION WITHIN 50 HOURS AND A RECURRING INSPECTION EVERY 400 HOURS THEREAFTER, UNTIL THE UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH AN IMPROVED MODEL. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE INFORMATION NOTICE; HOWEVER, THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE INSPECTIONS WERE BEING PERFORMED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1991 | Hughes 269C | Deland, Florida, United States | Maverick Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1991 | Hughes 269A-1 | No. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States | North Little Rock Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1991 | Hughes 269B | Grand Ronde, Oregon, United States | Precision Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Hughes 269A-1 | Canby, Oregon, United States | Noble Helicopters, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Hughes 269C | Blakely, Georgia, United States | Flight Safety International | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jun 1991 | Hughes 269B | Warrenton, Oregon, United States | Conquest Helicopter, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
All 1,213 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 150 | Searcy, Arkansas, United States | Search Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-28 | Berryville, Arkansas, United States | Snider, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1991 | Cessna 140 | Ward, Arkansas, United States | Martin D. Odum | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Aug 1991 | Cessna 172K | Fisher, Arkansas, United States | Herbert D. Ziegenhorn | No injuries | - |
| 28 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150G | Benton, Arkansas, United States | John Wells | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1991 | Grumman G-164A | Light, Arkansas, United States | Harvey E. Songer | No injuries | - |