# NTSB CEN14LA398: Hughes 369D, N89ZC, West Liberty, OH, July 29, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2014, 16:51 local (20:51 UTC) - Place: West Liberty, OH - Coordinates: 40.301944, -83.76889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3019&lon=-83.7689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 89775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89775/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89775 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA398 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power, which resulted from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the fuel quantity during the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was using an aerial saw to trim trees when the accident occurred. As the helicopter was going through a tree line, the engine lost power, and it then descended into trees and terrain. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that no fuel was present in either the fuel tank or in the engine fuel line. When electrical power was applied to the helicopter after the accident, the fuel quantity indicator showed that the fuel tank was empty. The helicopter was topped off with fuel before the accident flight, and it had been flown 1 hour 50 minutes before the accident. The operator stated that the fuel tank holds 62.4 gallons, and the pilot reported that the helicopter consumes about 30 gallons per hour. It is likely that the pilot did not adequately monitor the fuel quantity during the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2014, at 1651 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N89ZC, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power while trimming trees in West Liberty, Ohio. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to DAH Aircraft LLC and operated by Rotor Blade LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 external load flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a nearby field at 1501. The pilot was using a 10-bladed aerial saw to trim trees along a railroad track when the accident occurred. A witness reported the engine sounded like it lost power and the tail of the helicopter oscillated to the left as the helicopter began losing altitude. The helicopter then rolled to the left and descended to impact with the trees and terrain. A postaccident examination of the helicopter was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The inspector reported the tail boom separated from the helicopter during the impact. The tail rotor drive shaft did not show evidence of torsional twisting. The main and tail rotor blades contained little damage. He reported there was no evidence of fuel spill at the accident site. The helicopter's fuel system was intact and there was no fuel present in the fuel tank or in the fuel line at the engine. The inspector applied electrical power to the helicopter and the fuel quantity indicator showed the tank was empty. The helicopter was topped off with fuel prior to the flight. According to the helicopter operator, the helicopter holds 62.4 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported the helicopter consumes about 30 gallons per hour. The operator stated the spot tracker information showed the helicopter flew 1 hour and 50 minutes from the last fueling to the time of the accident and they drained about one quart of fuel from the helicopter after the accident. The operator stated the pilots and ground crew time the flights for fuel consumption. The ground crew gave the pilot a one hour time check followed by additional 15 minute time checks prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89ZC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89ZC-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 1098D, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (registry code 54385, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1098D - Year built: 1981 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Rotor Blade LLC - Registered owner: Dah Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: West Liberty, OH - Destination: West Liberty, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 11,490 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: EDJ, 5 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 20140729012839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140729012839A), Jul 29, 2014: Hughes 369D, West Liberty, OH, Substantial damage. Description of event and comments with recommendation(s) (1) Description of event. July 29, 2014; pilot was conducting vegetation cutting activities using a… ## Other investigations on N89ZC (3) 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 ERA19FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA118), Mar 5, 2019: Hughes 369 (N89ZC), Talking Rock, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A fatigue failure of the overrunning clutch subassembly due to abnormal bending loads due to cracks on the center engine mount, which resulted in an inflight loss of power. Contributing to the… - [NTSB GAA18CA506](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA506), Aug 22, 2018: Hughes 369 (N89ZC), Ridgeway, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial observation flight. - [NTSB ERA10LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA053), Nov 6, 2009: Hughes 369 (N89ZC), Baxley, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the main fuel valve position. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89775. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Ohio State Highway Patrol Report (item 2, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ohio%20State%20Highway%20Patrol%20Report-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.