# Accident 19971003029999A: Hughes 269A, Campbellsville, KY, October 3, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 1997, 16:20 local time
- Place: Campbellsville, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3395° N, 85.3403° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3395&lon=-85.3403&mi=10
- Aircraft: N269SS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,756 total, 65 in this make and model, 98 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971003029999A

## Narrative

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

LOST ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AUTO ROTATED INTO A FIELD, RIGHT SKID BROKE OFF ON LANDING, CARTWHEELED. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 3 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AN AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED TO A DOWNHILL, SLOPING FIELD.  THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT SKID, AND THE HELICOPTER CARTWHEELED ONTO ITS NOSE.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER, AND THE FUEL SLIP WHICH THE PILOT SIGNED, REVEALED THAT IT WAS REFUELED WITH JET A FUEL INSTEAD OF 100 LL AVGAS.  THE PILOT HAD RADIOED THAT HE WANTED A 'QUICK TURN.'  UPON HIS ARRIVAL THE ATTENDANT WAS WAITING BY THE FUEL PUMPS.  THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL IF THE ATTENDANT GAVE HIM THE NOZZLE, BUT THE PILOT REFUELED THE HELICOPTER.  HE STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE MARKINGS ON THE FUEL PUMPS WERE MORE VISIBLE, AND THAT THE NOZZLES ON JET A PUMPS SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO FIT AVGAS FUEL TANKS.                                       (-23) ON OCTOBER 3 1997 AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 EDT, A HUGHES 269A CRASHED IN A PASTURE TWO MILES SOUTH OF CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. THE DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR 91. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 FT. MSL WHEN THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE INSTRUCTOR EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATIONAL LANDING ON A THIRTY DEGREE ANGLE SLOPE LEFT SKID FIRST. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED OVER TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO A REST ON THE NOSE SECTION. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT. THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE NOT INJURED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO SYSTEM OR MATERIAL DEFECTS AND NO PRE OR POST CRASH FIRE. HOWEVER, STATEMENTS MADE BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND THE AIRPORT OPERATOR REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED WITH 18 GALLONS OF JET-A PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 IAD98LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA002), Oct 3, 1997: Hughes 269A (N269SS), Campbellsville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot refueled the helicopter with jet fuel instead of avgas, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A related factor was the unsuitable terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.