# Accident 20030625013709A: Hughes 369E, Big Timber, MT, June 25, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 2003, 09:00 local time
- Place: Big Timber, MT
- Airport: Big Timber Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9186° N, 109.8711° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9186&lon=-109.8711&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1502, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1502-2012-07-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters 369E (registry code 4470707, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,450 total, 6,100 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03TA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03TA116) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030625013709A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE PERFORMING PREDATOR CONTROL, A USDA HELICOPTER ENGINE SUSTAINED COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 40' AGL WITH AN AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 KNOTS. A TEARDOWN, INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE (S/N CAE 836294) AT THE ROLLS ROYCE (ALLISON) FACILITY IN INDIANAPOLIS DETERMINED THE COMPRESSOR-COUPLING ADAPTER WAS FRACTURED. THE FORWARD END OF THE COMPRESSOR COUPLING ADAPTER REMAINED LODGED WITHIN THE COMPRESSOR IMPELLER WHILE THE AFT END REMAINED ON THE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT. FURTHER METALLURGICAL INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF THE COMPRESSOR IMPELLER AND SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE NTSB LAB IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON JULY 21, 22 AND 23, 2003. A METALLURGICAL REPORT WILL BE ISSUED UPON COMPLETION. AN AMENDED FAA FORM 8020-23 WILL BE COMPLETED SUBSEQUENT TO FURTHER INFORMATION OBTAINED. (-23 AMENDMENT) RECEIVED DRAFT OF FACTUAL REPORT FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OM^ NTSB. FINAL FACTUAL REPORT AND DETERMINATION OF CAUSE TO BE ESTABLISHED SOMETIME AFTER FEBRUARY 20, 2004. DISCUSSED REPORT WITH ^PRIVACY DATA O^, INVESTIGATOR/ROLLS ROYCE, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR COUPLING                                          ADAPTER WAS THE CONTRIBUTING CAUSAL FACTOR OF THIS HELICOPTER 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 SEA03TA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03TA116), Jun 25, 2003: McDonnell Douglas 369E (N1502), Big Timber, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fretting on the outside diameter of the compressor coupling adapter which resulted in fatigue and subsequent fracture of the adapter, and ultimately the disconnection of the compressor from the…

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.