Hughes TH-55A N789MC

Summary

On 30 July 1994 at about 19:00 local time, a Hughes TH-55A registered N789MC was involved in an accident near Savannah, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one 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

30 July 1994 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Savannah, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.9809, -81.0802

Aircraft

Hughes TH-55A

Registration

N789MC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94GA148

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED DISPENSING A LOAD OF CHEMICAL USED TO CONTROL MOSQUITO'S. WHILE ON A REPOSITION FLIGHT TO DISPENSE ANOTHER LOAD OF CHEMICAL, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE TOP OF A TALL OAK TREE. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND MANAGED TO CLIMB DOWN OUT OF THE TREE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF THE ENGINE DRIVE CHAIN, AND THE CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. THE AIRCRAFT SPARK PLUGS WERE BLACK AND SOOTED. THERE WAS FUEL IN THE LINES AND IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL INJECTOR. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL INJECTOR WAS DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT, AND COULD NOT BE TESTED FOR OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.