# NTSB CEN13CA145: Hughes 369HS, N193M, London, OH, January 29, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2013, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: London, OH
- Coordinates: 40.050834, -83.386665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0508&lon=-83.3867&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86104/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86104
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA145

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to comply with established cold weather operating procedures, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's excessive aft cyclic input during the landing flare, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tail boom.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot said the helicopter's turbine engine lost power after flying through an area of moderate to heavy snow. The pilot entered an autorotation and applied excessive aft cyclic during the touchdown in a field, which caused the main rotor blades to flex down and sever the tailboom. Weather reported in the area included snow and freezing fog, with a temperature of 16 degrees F. The helicopter was equipped with an automatic engine re-ignition and engine failure warning system, which was required per the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for operation in falling or blowing snow. The pilot said this system was armed at the time of the engine failure and the engine-out warning light illuminated and an audible tone sounded before the power loss. The RFM also stated that flight into known icing conditions was prohibited and fuel had to meet anti-icing capability of JP-4 when operating at 40 degrees or less. A review of fueling records revealed that no anti-icing additive was added to the fuel. The pilot was aware of the icing conditions, but he continued the flight. Examination of the engine found no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot said the helicopter's turbine engine lost power after flying through an area of moderate to heavy snow. The pilot entered an autorotaion and landed in a field with excessive aft cyclic, which caused the main rotor blades to flex down and sever the tail boom. Weather reported in the area included snow, freezing fog, with a temperature of 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The helicopter was equipped with an automatic engine re-ignition and engine failure warning system, which was required per the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for operation in falling or blowing snow. The pilot said this system was armed at the time of the engine failure and the engine-out warning light illuminated before the power loss along with an audible tone. The RFM also stated that flight into known icing conditions was prohibited and fuel had to meet anti-icing capability of JP-4 when operating at 40 degrees or less. A review of fueling records revealed no anti-icing additive was added to the fuel. Examination of the engine found no mechanical anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N193M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N193M-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 1190219S, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1190219S
- Airframe hours: 6309
- Engines: Allison A250-C18 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel Mills
- Registered owner: Daniel Mills
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Canton, OH
- Destination: DAY, Dayton, OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft indefinitevv
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: OSU, 21 nm away

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86104. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Dan Mills (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Dan%20Mills-Master.PDF
- Ohio State Highway Patrol Report (item 3, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ohio%20State%20Highway%20Patrol%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Fuel Receipts (item 4, .PDF, 596 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipts-Redacted.PDF

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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