# NTSB BFO85FA013: Aerospatiale SA 360C, N42CP, Washington, DC, January 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1985, 14:16 local (19:16 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Coordinates: 38.909332, -77.02079 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9093&lon=-77.0208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11126/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FA013

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system - undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - lubricating system,oil seal - leak (contributing factor)
  - fluid,oil - leak (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - dumped (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - runway
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE FLT CREW RPRTD THE ENG LOST PWR WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS AT APRX 100' WITH A FWD SPEED OF 50 KTS. WITNESSES OBSERVED FAINT GRAY/WHITE SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE VICINITY OF THE TAILPIPE SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF WHICH TRAILED & BECAME PROFUSEIMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE HELICOPTER BEGAN DSCNDG. SUBSEQUENTLY THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GND IN A LEVEL, RGT YAW ATTITUDE. THE RGT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & FOLDED UNDER THE BELLY, THE FUEL CELLS RUPTURED & THE TAIL CONE SEPARATED FROM THE CABIN. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT A MIXTURE OF FUEL & OIL HAD VENTED OVERBOARD THRU THE FLEXIBOX SEAL DRAIN LINE. ALTHO THE ACFT HAD RECENTLY BEEN WASHED, A HVY FUEL STAIN WAS NOTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HELICOPTER FROM THE GANG DRAIN TO THE FENESTRON. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT FUEL & OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE JET HOLDER WHICH TRANSFERRED FUEL FROM A LINEAR LINE TO A ROTATING LINE. HOWEVER, AN EXAM OF THE FUEL (FLEXIBOX) & OIL (SEALOL) SEALS SHOWED NO IRREGULARITIES. THE CONDITION COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED DURING BENCH TESTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N42CP (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA 360C
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1031
- Airframe hours: 2007
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTAZOU XVIII 871 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pfizer, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 20, 1984, 74 hours before
- Departed: DCA
- Destination: 4N6, GARDEN CITY, NY
- Airport: DCA, National

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,890 total, 1,165 in this make and model, 5,524 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DCA

## 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 19850117061269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850117061269A), Jan 17, 1985: Aerosp SA360C, Washington, DC, Substantial damage. Engine power loss on initial climb, hard landing. Oil of flexibox drain contaminated with fuel from leaking seal.

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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