# NTSB ATL92FA029: Aerospatiale AS350D Astar, N26FH, Fuquay-Varina, NC, December 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1991, 00:15 local (05:15 UTC)
- Place: Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Coordinates: 35.539497, -78.830444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5395&lon=-78.8304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8490
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8490/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA029

## 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

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine assembly,bearing - seized (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,seat belt - failure,total
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26FH-1992-10-27), registration cancelled 1992-10-27, S/N 1331 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350D ASTAR (AS350D AST)
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1331
- Airframe hours: 2716
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19911207055069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911207055069A), Dec 7, 1991: Snias AS350D, Fuquay Varina, NC, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Chip light on several times. Passed airport. Lost power. Crashed. Compressor bearing shaft seized. Engine defects.

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.