# NTSB BFO90LA075: Hughes 369E, N50075, Prestonburg, KY, September 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1990, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Prestonburg, KY
- Coordinates: 37.669738, -82.760772 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6697&lon=-82.7608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11612/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA075

## Probable cause

THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO THE EN ROUTE PORTION OF THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE DID AN AUTOROTATION AND UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO LAND IN A FIELD, BUT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF IT. THE PLT STATED THAT THE AUX TANKS WERE FULL AND THE MAIN TANK GAGE INDICATED 90 LBS (14 GALS) WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN ABOUT 1.9 HRS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED. THE MAIN AND AUX TANK CAPACITY, RESPECTIVELY, ARE 64 AND 20 GALS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANIAL MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50075](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50075-1995-11-14), registration cancelled 1995-11-14, S/N 0004E (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (registry code 4470707) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0004E
- Airframe hours: 2037
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 480 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Branham S Baker Coal Co., Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 1990, 103 hours before
- Departed: FLATWOODS, KY
- Destination: PIKESVILLE, KY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,582 total, 839 in this make and model, 6,552 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JKL

## 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 19900914039799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900914039799A), Sep 14, 1990: Hughes 369E, Prestonburg, KY, Substantial damage. Lost power struck trees short of open field. Main tank empty. Aux tank full. Fuel transfer control system closed.

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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