20130812017849A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Burns, OR · August 12, 2013

Date: August 12, 2013 · 14:00 local
Place: Burns, OR
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operator: AWTA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N62PJ
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR13GA374
Reported as: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E
Reported engine: Allison 250-C20 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor

N62PJRegistration cancelled Nov 6, 2013 · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369ES/N 0535E · Built 1997 Airframe modelMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E Engine modelAllison 250-C20 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

Aircraft N62PJ was conducting public use operations for harney county sheriff. While flying over mountainous terrain with altitude varying between 400 and 700 feet AGL, the pilot heard a loud bang, followed by engine out warning lights and horn. Pilot completed an autorotation but landed hard.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT N62PJ WAS CONDUCTING PUBLIC USE OPERATIONS FOR HARNEY COUNTY SHERIFF. WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH ALTITUDE VARYING BETWEEN 400 AND 700 FEET AGL, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE OUT WARNING LIGHTS AND HORN. PILOT COMPLETED AN AUTOROTATION BUT LANDED HARD.

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 WPR13GA374Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBurns, ORThe total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the separation of one of the 4th-stage turbine wheel blades due to low-cycle fatigue cracking that had progressed to high-cycle fatigue cracking, which ultimately led to the overload failure of the…Aug 12, 2013 · Substantial damage