# NTSB ATL92FA126: Aerospatiale AS-355-F, N365DU, Fort Bragg, NC, June 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1992, 13:02 local (17:02 UTC)
- Place: Fort Bragg, NC
- Coordinates: 35.129276, -79.000549 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1293&lon=-79.0005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8512
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8512/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA126

## Probable cause

THE TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF THE OIL SUPPLY LINE FOR THE REAR MAIN BEARING IN ENGINE MODULE THREE WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE BEARING, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LEAK FROM THE ENGINE START DRAIN VALVE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, cruise - normal
  - turboshaft engine - fire
  - lubricating system,oil line - blocked(total) (cause)
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)
  - fuel system,drain - leak (cause)
- Forced landing, cruise - normal

## Analysis

THE AIR AMBULANCE HELICOPTER WAS ENROUTE TO PICK UP A PATIENT WHEN THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ENGINE FIRE LIGHT ILLUMINATE, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE ENTERING THE CABIN AREA. THE FLIGHT CREW EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE NEARBY SIMMONS ARMY AIRFIELD AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL SUPPLY LINE FOR THE BEARING WAS BLOCKED WITH CARBON AND THE REAR BEARING IN THE NUMBER THREE MODULE HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE START FUEL VALVE BEGAN LEAKING FUEL AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF TORQUE ON CONNECTING BOLTS DUE TO ENGINE VIBRATION. THE START FUEL VALVE WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENGINE STARTER/GENERATOR. THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENSIVE FIRE IN THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ORIGINATING IN THE AREA OF THE STARTER/GENERATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N365DU (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-355-F
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 6102
- Airframe hours: 4638
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1C 700 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Omniflight Helicopters
- Registered owner: State Street Bank & Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 11, 1992, 94 hours before
- Departed: ND92, DURHAM, NC
- Destination: NONE, LUMBERTON, NC
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,347 total, 5,693 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAY, 20 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 19920615022139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920615022139A), Jun 15, 1992: Aerosp SA365N, Fort Bragg, NC, Substantial damage. Engine fire inflight. Landed safe. Turbine bearing seized. Start drain valve loose. Leaked fuel. Metal in oil.

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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