Hughes 269C N1105B

Summary

On 20 July 1997 at about 00:00 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N1105B was involved in an accident near Yamhill, Oregon, United States. 2 people were 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

20 July 1997 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Yamhill, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.3605, -123.2404

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N1105B

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA171

1 person had minor injuries.

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 was giving a sightseeing ride with a passenger in a helicopter. The pilot stated that immediately after takeoff, about 100 feet above the ground, a power fluctuation occurred in the engine, followed by a total loss of engine power. Despite the pilot's attempts to regain engine power, an autorotation to a landing became necessary. The helicopter struck the ground, rolled over, and was substantially damaged. Sufficient fuel was found on board the helicopter for engine operation. The engine and airframe underwent a detailed examination and functional test. The examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, and no abnormal operation was observed during the functional test of the engine. Inadvertent selection of the cyclic governor switch to the off position could affect engine performance during takeoff, as well as an improper adjustment of the RPM selector dial. However, no conclusive evidence was found to indicate that these situations occurred.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.