# NTSB BFO92FA022: Hughes 369D, N8674F, Edison, NJ, January 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1992, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Edison, NJ
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA022

## Probable cause

THE BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL NOZZLE WHICH RESULTED IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel system,nozzle - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS RETURNING HOME, WHEN ACCORDING TO A WITNESS WHO SAW THE HELICOPTER ABOUT 800 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AT FIRST. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED FOLLOWED BY THE HELICOPTER 'DUTCH ROLLING' (BANKING) LEFT AND RIGHT FOR TWO CYCLES AND THEN ROLLED OVER ONE AND HALF TIMES NOSE FIRST AS IT DROPPED BEHIND THE TREES. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND WAS DESTROYED BY POST-CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT CONFIRMED CONTINUITY OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX, AND INTERNAL ROTATIONAL DAMAGE FOR THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT ROTATIONAL DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR, TAIL ROTOR, AND ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION DRIVESHAFT (SHORT SHAFT). EXAMINATION OF THE SHAFT REVEALED IT HAD SEPARAED FROM THE BENDIX COUPLINGS AND WAS CRUSHED ALMOST FLAT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ROTATIONAL DAMAGE BETWEEN THE SEPARATED HALVES. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL NOZZLE WAS CORRODED WITH FERROUS FIBERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8674F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8674F-1993-08-31), registration cancelled 1993-08-31, S/N 970185D (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D (HU-369-D)
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 970185D
- Airframe hours: 2100
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Sun Dun Inc. Of Washington
- Registered owner: Sun Dun Inc. Of Washington
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1991, 1,026 hours before
- Departed: NEW YORK, NY
- Destination: PASADENA, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWR, 10 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 19920115000649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920115000649A), Jan 15, 1992: Hughes 369D, Edison, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed to dutch roll nose over tumbled. Hit ground and burned. Rotor RPM low at impact. Cause of problem unknown.

## Other investigations on N8674F (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 IAD79DIJ07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DIJ07), May 30, 1979: Hughes 369D (N8674F), Amherstdale, WV, 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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