# NTSB BFO91LA014: Hughes 269C, N9280F, Louisville, KY, November 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1990, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Coordinates: 38.220741, -85.680046 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2207&lon=-85.6800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11645/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA014

## Probable cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD.

## 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
  - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PATROLLING A PIPELINE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE DID AN AUTOROTATION LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD CAP HAD FRACTURED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE REVEALED A FATIGUE CRACK HAD ORIGINATED FROM A GALLING MARK ON THE BEARING SURFACE OF THE ROD. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED 39 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST OVERHAULED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9280F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9280F-1993-03-23), registration cancelled 1993-03-23, S/N 540305 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 540305
- Airframe hours: 8409
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Helicopters Inc.
- Registered owner: Helicopters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, October 1, 1990, 39 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,660 total, 2,600 in this make and model, 275 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LOU

## 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 19901115050759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901115050759A), Nov 15, 1990: Hughes 269C, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. Threw connecting rod through engine case on pipeline patrol. Made autorotation landing. Rod cap had fatigue mark.

## Other investigations on N9280F (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL85LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA259), Aug 25, 1985: Hughes 269C (N9280F), Elizabethtown, KY, substantial damage

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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