# Accident 20201027020999A: Hughes 369D, Honolulu, HI, October 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 27, 2020, 11:33 local time
- Place: Honolulu, HI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: WVXL
- Location: 21.3453° N, 157.8066° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3453&lon=-157.8066&mi=10
- Aircraft: N58251, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58251) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 21,237 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201027020999A

## Narrative

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

DURING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO RELOCATE EQUIPMENT, ENGINE LOST POWER.  PILOT JETTISONED LOAD AND LINE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO DENSE TREES AND CRASHED ON SIDE OF RIDGE. PILOT HAD TO PULL FUEL SHUT OFF AND ROTATE THROTTLE TO SHUT DOWN ENGINE AFTER AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST.

PERFORMED AIRCRAFT INSPECTION AND TEARDOWN WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AND ROLLS ROYCE.  DISCOVERED THE CIRCLIP AND PIN MISSING FROM THE FLAPPER SEAL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE START PUMP MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK.  THIS APERTURE IS THE MAIN INLET TO THE FUEL LINE RUNNING FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP.  THE RUBBER FLAPPER SEAL WAS PARTIALLY OBSCURING THE ORIFICE IN TO THE FUEL LINE AND WAS MOBILE.  FOUND THE CENTER PIN FOR THE SEAL IN THE FUEL LINE IN THE 90 DEGREE ELBOW LEADING INTO THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP.  THE CIRCLIP WAS NOT RECOVERED.

NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE INSPECTION OTHER THAN THE DAMAGE INCURRED DURING THE CRASH.

## 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 ANC21LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA003), Oct 27, 2020: Hughes 369 (N58251), Honolulu, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to an obstructed fuel line as a result of the separation of the circlip from the pin used on the fuel start pump. The reason for the circlip separation could not be…

## Other reports on N58251 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20080911845689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080911845689I), Sep 11, 2008: Hughes 369D (N58251), Hana, HI, Minor damage. (-23) While placing an external load on the ground the pilot heard a loud bang with subsequent loss of engine power. Pilot performed a hovering autoration from…

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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