- Date
- December 7, 1991, 00:15 local (05:15 UTC)
- Place
- Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N26FHAerospatiale AS350D Astar
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report January 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911207055069A
- Case key
- 8490
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision in continuing the flight with a known engine problem, and the subsequent seizure of the number two engine bearing, resulting in engine stoppage. Darkness was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The news helicopter was returning from a reporting assignment at night in VMC conditions. The sole survivor, a sportscaster, reported that about 20 to 25 minutes before the crash, the engine chip light came on. The light came on and was reset by the pilot 5 to 10 times. There was also a loss of torque on the torque gauge. Subsequently, the engine lost power & the helicopter crash landed in an open field. An inspection of the engine revealed the #2 bearing had seized, resulting in failure of the compressor shaft. The #2 bearing had been replaced during recent engine maintenance, and there was only about 125 hours on the new bearing. The oil jet to the bearing was not blocked or clogged. There were torque fluctuations observed on two occasions during the week before to the accident. Several components were changed in an attempt to pinpoint the problem. The survivor's seat belt failed in the crash due to an improper installation, and he was thrown clear of the wreckage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N26FH
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale AS350D Astar (AS350D AST)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1331
- Airframe hours
- 2,716
- Engine
- Lycoming LTS-101-600A2, 590 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Equipment Leasors Of Pa, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Equipment Leasors Of Pa, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 13, 1991 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Wilmington, NC
- Destination
- NONE · Durham, NC
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 7,215 total · 931 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 15 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.