# Accident 20071029827569A: Hughes 369E, Columbus, OH, October 29, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 29, 2007, 17:36 local time
- Place: Columbus, OH
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9403° N, 83.0050° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9403&lon=-83.0050&mi=10
- Aircraft: N556CP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,924 total, 1,265 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08GA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08GA028) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071029827569A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT 1300 FEET MSL AND AIR SPEED BETWEEN 60-70 KNOTS, THERE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE HELICOPTER SHUTTERED AND THE ENGINE MADE A VERY LOUD SQUEALING/GRINDING/SUCKING SOUND WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SHAKING AND A PRONOUNCED LEFT YAW FOLLOWED BY ANNUNCIATOR PANEL WARNING LIGHTS AND THE AUDIBLE WARNING HORN. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN AUTOROTATION TO A SMALL SPOT AT THE EAST END OF THE PENINSULA IN THE SCIOTO RIVER AND LANDED SAFELY. AS THE HELICOPTER SETTLED THE RIGHT SKID SANK IN THE MUD CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND ON ITS SIDE. UPON EXITING THE HELICOPTER, THE PASSENGER SMELLED SMOKE AND TOOK THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO INVESTIGATE THE ENGINE AREA BUT FOUND NO FIRE.

## 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 CHI08GA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08GA028), Oct 29, 2007: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N556CP), Columbus, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate turbine wheel design that led to a turbine airfoil (blade) failure/separation, resulting in the loss of engine power.

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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