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20021218034469A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Hughes 269C · Losbanos, CA · December 18, 2002

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
December 18, 2002 · 15:15 local
Place
Losbanos, CA
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N642KC
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX03LA052
Reported as
Hughes 269C
N642KCRegistration cancelled Jan 8, 2008 · Schweizer 269CS/N S1682 · Built 1994Airframe modelSchweizer 269CEngine modelLycoming HIO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft was on initial maintenance check flight after the installation of an overhauled engine. As the aircraft was returning to the airport, (lsn) the pilot reported that at approx. 500FT. AGL. The aircraft engine lost power that required an auto-rotation/emergency landing. Landing site was a soft/mud field. The aircraft touched down with approx. 10 mph forward speed. The skid gear settled into the soft ground causing the aircraft to roll inverted. (.19) on December 18, 2002, at 1521 pacific standard time, a Schweizer 269C, N642KC, experienced a total loss of engine power and rolled over during a forced landing in a muddy field at los banos, California. The helicopter was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at los banos about 1500. The pilot and aircraft maintenance technician were performing a post maintenance test flight when a vibration occurred followed by a loss of total engine power. Post accident examinat ion revealed a failed exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON INITIAL MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF AN OVERHAULED ENGINE. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT, (LSN) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT APPROX. 500FT. AGL. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER THAT REQUIRED AN AUTO-ROTATION/EMERGENCY LANDING. LANDING SITE WAS A SOFT/MUD FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH APPROX. 10 MPH FORWARD SPEED. THE SKID GEAR SETTLED INTO THE SOFT GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL INVERTED. (.19) ON DECEMBER 18, 2002, AT 1521 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C, N642KC, EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ROLLED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD AT LOS BANOS, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LOS BANOS ABOUT 1500. THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WERE PERFORMING A POST MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT WHEN A VIBRATION OCCURRED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF TOTAL ENGINE POWER. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINAT ION REVEALED A FAILED EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03LA052Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLos Banos, CAThe improper engine overhaul by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in an exhaust valve failure and a total loss of engine power while in maneuvering flight.Dec 18, 2002 · Substantial damage