# Accident 19970521011659A: Hughes 369D, Moclips, WA, May 21, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 1997, 10:00 local time
- Place: Moclips, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 47.2399° N, 124.1998° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2399&lon=-124.1998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8306F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8306F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970521011659A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LIFTED OFF VERTICALLY AND TURNED THE HELICOPTER DOWNWIND TOWARD THE FIRST SLING LOAD. WHEN THE HELICOPTER ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF 70 TO 80 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION AND JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT SIDE LANDING SKID COLLIDED WITH A 17 GALLON FUEL JUG. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT SIDE LANDING SKID COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND COLLAPSED. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE PNEUMATIC LINE AT THE FUEL CONTROL OF THE ENGINE WAS DISCONNECTED. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE FUEL CONTROL HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ALL OF THE B-NUTS HAD BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED. THE PNEUMATIC LINE, B-NUT AND THREADS, AND THE MATING CONNECTION ON THE FUEL CONTROL WERE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE FOUND TO INDICATE HOW THE B-NUT COULD HAVE BACKED OFF THE FUEL CONTROL CONNECTION IF IT HAD BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA97LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA118), May 21, 1997: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Moclips, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate installation of the fuel control by company maintenance personnel and a loose nut on a line. A disconnected Pc line was a factor.

## Other reports on N8306F (4)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19990608006659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608006659A), Jun 8, 1999: Hughes 369D (N8306F), South Bend, WA, Substantial damage. 1978 Hughes 369D helicopter was involved in an external load operation when the acft engine failed, the pilot autorotated the acft, and the acft made a hard…
- [Accident 19900521016979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900521016979A), May 21, 1990: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Kelso, WA, 1 fatal. Tried to lift sling load of wood blocks through dense tree cover causing blocks to fall. Hit crewman without hardhat
- [Incident 19830902067739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830902067739I), Sep 2, 1983: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Scottys Junctio, NV, Minor damage. Main rotors severed 3 powerlines during climbout. Made normal landing. Poor egress route planning.
- [Accident 19790121001309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790121001309A), Jan 21, 1979: Hughes 369 (N8306F), Marble, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot lost ground reference due to snow white-out caused by rotors during landing approach.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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