Hughes 369HS N501FH

Summary

On 3 August 1992 at about 21:13 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N501FH, operated by Coffman, Leslie R., was involved in an accident near Monroe, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 August 1992 at 21:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Monroe, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Monroe Regional (MLU)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 369HS

Registration

N501FH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Coffman, Leslie R.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92LA199

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AUTOROTATION. FACTORS WERE THE TAILWIND AND THE POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRACK THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE DEPARTURE WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AND THE WINDS WERE FROM THE WEST AT 5 KNOTS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL AND APPROXIMATELY 35 KNOTS AIRSPEED, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE GRASS ABEAM A RUNWAY. DURING THE FLARE THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE SKID GEAR AND SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY WITH NO ANOMALIES NOTED. ADDITIONAL TESTS ON THE ENGINE'S RELATED SYSTEMS DID NOT REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.