Hughes 369D N7148Z
9 December 2004 · Zachary, Louisiana, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 December 2004 at about 21:15 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N7148Z was involved in an accident near Zachary, Louisiana, 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 21:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Zachary, Louisiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.6753, -91.1142
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- N7148Z
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Zachary → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DFW05FA032
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The loss of engine power as a result of fatigue cracking of the compressor adaptor coupling initiated by fretting on the pilot diameter and subsequent disconnection of the compressor from the turbine assembly. A contributing factor was the low operating altitude of the helicopter, which made a successful autorotation by the pilot imposible.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While performing aerial side-trimming of trees and bushes for a pipeline right-of -way using an external saw at an altitude of about 200 feet, the 14,000-hour pilot experienced a left yaw and what he perceived to be an engine failure. The pilot released the external load as he attempted an autorotation from an out-of-ground effect hover at 200 feet agl. Crushing damage to the airframe was consistent with a ground impact at a high rate of descent. A detailed examinations of the engine confirmed the reported loss of engine power. The engine examination revealed the Rolls-Royce manufactured compressor adapter coupling, which had been installed approximately 414 hours earlier, had disconnected the compressor assembly from the turbine assembly as a result of fatigue cracking initiated by fretting on the pilot diameter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jul 2004 | Hughes 369D | Nome, Alaska, United States | Prism Helicopters Ltd | No injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 2004 | Hughes 369HS | Pacific Ocean | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 2004 | Hughes 369D | Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States | Darren Kronberger | No injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 2005 | Hughes 369HS | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Christopher Holland | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 2005 | Hughes 369D | Hangelosa, Sweden | HT Helikoptertransport AB | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 2003 | Hughes 369D | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 2004 | Bell 206-L1 | Vermillion Bay, Louisiana, United States | American Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 14 Dec 2004 | Cessna T210N | Abita Springs, Louisiana, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Mar 2004 | Stinson 108-1 | Slidell, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 2004 | Grumman G-164B | Mamou, Louisiana, United States | Central Farmers Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 2004 | Bell 206-L4 | Patterson, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 2004 | Rockwell S-2R | Jonesville, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |