Hughes 369D CGDCM
16 February 1999 · Baggs, Wyoming, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 16 February 1999 at about 00:15 local time, a Hughes 369D registered CGDCM was involved in an accident near Baggs, Wyoming, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 00:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Baggs, Wyoming, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.0298, -107.6508
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- CGDCM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN99LA040
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A hard landing resulting from rotor rpm decay. Factors were the improper replacement of the turbine by company maintenance personnel resulting in the PC line nut becoming loose, and the pilot operating outside the normal height/velocity curve.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter was conducting a seismic survey operation at 200 to 250 feet agl at 40 knots when the engine's automatic re-ignition system caution light illuminated, followed by an immediate loss of main rotor rpm. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to perform an autorotation, and the aircraft impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the turboshaft engine was performed, revealing that the PC line 'B' nut between the fuel control unit (FCU) and the power turbine governor (PTG) was not connected at the FCU, resulting in a loss of engine pneumatic pressure. According to aircraft maintenance records, the turbine section of the engine was removed by company maintenance and replaced with a rental turbine. The PC line and various pneumatic and fuel system lines had been removed to facilitate removal and replacement of the engine's turbine section. The helicopter had flown 6.1 hours since the turbine was replaced.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 1999 | Hughes 369HS | Pacific Ocean | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1999 | Hughes 369D | Petersburg, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Dec 1999 | Hughes 369HS | Pacific Ocean | Hansen Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1999 | Hughes 369D | Southbend, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 May 1999 | Hughes 369E | Intercession, Florida, United States | Air 2 | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Nov 1999 | Hughes 369D | Cologne, Germany | Good Fabrication | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 1999 | Piper PA-28-180 | Burlington, Wyoming, United States | Garland Brothers, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1999 | Grumman American AA-5 | Newcastle, Wyoming, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 8 May 1999 | Piper PA-11 | Lander, Wyoming, United States | Mark A. Ramsey | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Aug 1999 | Cessna 180H | Gillette, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1999 | Mooney M20K | Medicine Bow, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1999 | Cessna 208B | Cody, Wyoming, United States | Corporate Air | No injuries | - |