# NTSB ATL89LA100: Hughes 269C, N300PP, Bexley, OH, March 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1989, 07:20 local (12:20 UTC)
- Place: Bexley, OH
- Coordinates: 39.949813, -82.929809 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9498&lon=-82.9298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7995/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA100

## Probable cause

THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS DAMAGE WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly - overspeed (cause)
  - engine assembly - previous damage (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. AN AUTOROTATION WAS EXECUTED TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE TAILBOOM WAS SEVERED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NO. 1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED.FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DAMAGED PREVIOUSLY OVERSPED ABOUT 60 HOURS PRIOR THE EXHAUST VALVE FAILURE. ENGINE MAINTENANCE RECORDS CONTAINED NO EVIDENCE OF AN OVERSPEED INSPECTION BUT DID REVEAL THAT THE NO. 2 CYLINDER WAS REMOVED BECAUSE OF OIL FOULING. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED TWO TENTHS OF AN HOUR AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER AND SUFFERED FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N300PP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 900958
- Airframe hours: 1951
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Baumberger, Terry F.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1989, 75 hours before
- Departed: 2I4, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: 2I4

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,360 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMH, 14 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 19890313003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890313003519A), Mar 13, 1989: Hughes 269C, Bexley, OH, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on traffic watch flight at 500 feet. Autorotated to hard landing. Exhaust valve had failed.

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.

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