Hughes 369D N115HD
22 December 1993 · Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 22 December 1993 at about 18:00 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N115HD, operated by Smokey Mountain Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 21.9108, -159.5900
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- N115HD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Smokey Mountain Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hanapepe → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA076
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
AN INADEQUATE ENGINE COMPRESSOR CLEANING PROCEDURE SPECIFIED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE LETTER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CONTAMINATION, BLOCKAGE, AND COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL NOZZLE INLET SCREEN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF A SPECIFIED PERIODIC INSPECTION REQUIREMENT FOR THE NOZZLE SCREEN AND THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. DURING AUTOROTATION INTO A RIVER BED AREA, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED A BOULDER & ROLLED OVER. ENG EXAM REVEALED A COLLAPSED FUEL INLET SCREEN IN THE FUEL NOZZLE RESTRICTING FUEL FLOW. HEAVY CONTAMINATION, LATER DETERMINED TO BE A SODIUM-RICH SILICON MATERIAL, WAS NOTED ON THE SCREEN. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY IN A MARINE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE OPERATOR PERFORMED A DAILY COMPRESSOR WASH PROCEDURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE LETTER. THE SPECIFIED PROCEDURE RESULTED IN IMMERSION OF THE FUEL NOZZLE IN SODIUM-CONTAMINATED WASH WATER, WITH SUBSEQUENT SOLUTION INFILTRATION INTO THE FUEL NOZZLE INLET SCREEN. THE SCREEN HAS A LIFE LIMIT OF 2,500 HRS AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY ROUTINE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 1993 | Hughes 369D | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Nov 1993 | Hughes 369HS | Antonia, Missouri, United States | Drug Enforcement Admin. | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jul 1993 | Hughes 369D | Cordova, Alaska, United States | Soloy Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1993 | Hughes 369HS | Talladega, Alabama, United States | Allison, David C. | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Aug 1993 | Hughes 369D | Mount Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Soloy Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1993 | Hughes 369D | Chico, California, United States | Butte County Sheriffs's Dept | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 1993 | Robinson R-22 BETA | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 25 Jan 1993 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Volcano Natl Pk, Hawaii, United States | Kainoa Aviation, Inc | Fatal | 4 |
| 22 Feb 1993 | Hughes 369D | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Pacific Helicopter Tours, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1993 | Schweizer 269C | Kepuhi Molokai, Hawaii, United States | Matthew G. Hardy | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1993 | Piper PA-31 | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Flight Contract Services | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Oct 1993 | Schweizer SGS 2-33A | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |