# Accident 19990608006659A: Hughes 369D, South Bend, WA, June 8, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 8, 1999, 09:20 local time - Place: South Bend, WA - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133) - Location: 46.5598° N, 123.8797° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5598&lon=-123.8797&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 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA082) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608006659A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 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 LANDING AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) HELICOPTER RELEASED EXTERNAL LOAD AT 100 FOOT HOVER AND EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS. EXECUTED AUTOROTATION AND EXPERIENCED HARD LANDING AND POWER OFF ROTOR SUDDEN STOPPAGE. HELICOPTER ROLLED ON RIGHT SIDE. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO RIGTH SIDE OF FUSELAGE. TAIL BOOM SEPERATED MID SPAN, WITH DETACHED PORTION OF BOOM LAYING APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET FROM AIRCRAFT. ENGINE EXMAINATION FOUND AIR TRANSFER TUBE DAMAGE, AND MOUNTING BOLTS FOR COMPRESSOR TO GEARBOX ATTACHMENT SHEARED. AIRCRAFT RELEASED TO OWNER FOR TRANSPORTATION TO BASE FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. ON 6-10-99, INSPECTION HELICOPTER AT OWNERS MAIN BASE. FOUND #1 BEARING HOUSING SEPERATED FROM FRONT COMPRESSOR HOUSING. N1 AND N2 GEAR TRAIN OF ENGINE FOUND SEIZED. ## 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 SEA99LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA082), Jun 8, 1999: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Southbend, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The complete loss of power, due to a failure of the compressor impeller disk. Factors include the low altitude of the helicopter at the time of the power loss, and the need to autorotate in a… ## Other reports on N8306F (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19970521011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970521011659A), May 21, 1997: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Moclips, WA, Substantial damage. (.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… - [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. --- 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.