# NTSB ATL87FA003: McDonnell Douglas 369E, N52705, Gahanna, OH, October 9, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1986, 15:41 local (19:41 UTC)
- Place: Gahanna, OH
- Coordinates: 40.039619, -82.870941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0396&lon=-82.8709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7257
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7257/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA003

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,fuel control - disabled (cause)
  - maintenance,replacement - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, company maintenance personnel
  - maintenance,inspection - poor, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - pneumatic system - undertorqued (cause)
  - pneumatic system - loose (cause)
  - pneumatic system - disconnected (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN CONDUCTING A SERIES OF DEMO FLTS DURING THE DAY & WAS ON THE LAST SCHEDULED FLT OF THE DAY. TO DROP OFF THE LOCAL PLT WHO HAD REQUESTED THE DEMO FLTS, WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THEY HAD MADE A TAKE OFF OVER THE TAXIWAY & TURNED TO THE NORTH AS DIRECTED BY THE TWR. THEY WERE OVER A HOUSING AREA NORTH OF THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG OUT AND LOW ROTOR WARNING SYSTEM SOUNDED. THE LOCAL PLT, WHO HAD MADE THE TAKE OFF & WAS AT THE CONTROLS, TOLD THE DEMO PLT THAT HE WAS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE ACFT. HE STATED THAT THE START BUTTON WAS ON THE LEFT SET OF CONTROLS. THE DEMO PLT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE HOUSING AREA BUT THE ACFT HIT VERY HARD IN THE MEDIAN OF A DIVIDED HIGHWAY. THE ACFT CROSSED THE SOUTH LANES AND STOPPED IN THE GRASS AT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. EXAMINATION REVEALED A LOOSE 'B' NUT ON THE P/C LINE TO THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52705](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52705-1991-04-03), registration cancelled 1991-04-03, S/N 0189E (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas 369E
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (registry code 3027369) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 189E
- Airframe hours: 36
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 35 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMH, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19861009048439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861009048439A), Oct 9, 1986: Hughes STC369, Gahanna, OH, Destroyed. Engine quit on demo flight. Hard autorotation landing ruptured gas tanks. Aircraft burned. Loose pneumatic line b nut

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.

---
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.