# NTSB CHI01LA223: Hughes 269A, N8733F, Jacksonville, IL, July 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2001, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, IL - Coordinates: 39.719596, -90.229614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7196&lon=-90.2296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 52886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52886/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA223 ## Probable cause The helicopter's loss of engine power for undetermined reasons while maneuvering close to the ground, and the low altitude and low airspeed. A factor relating to this accident was the pilot not being able to get into autorotation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - altitude - low, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - low, pilot in command (cause) - autorotation - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he believed the helicopter lost [engine] power which resulted in the accident. He said that he did not have time to notice the engine gauges prior to the impact, due to his close proximity to the ground while conducting corn pollination. He said that he had previously flown the helicopter approximately 1.5 hours and had refueled prior to the accident flight. The pilot said that he was approximately 100 yards into the field, on a straight flight path, and at an airspeed of about 30 to 35 knots when the accident occurred. An examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2001, at 1130 central daylight time, a Hughes 269A helicopter, N8733F, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted into a corn field 5 miles north-northeast of Jacksonville, Illinois, while maneuvering over the field. Prior to the crash, the pilot said the engine lost power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated at a seed corn facility 5 miles north-northeast of Jacksonville, Illinois, at 1110. In his written statement, the pilot said that he believed the helicopter lost [engine] power which resulted in the accident. He said that he did not have time to notice the engine gauges prior to the impact, due to his close proximity to the ground while conducting corn pollination. He said that he had previously flown the helicopter approximately 1.5 hours and had refueled prior to the accident flight. The pilot said that he was approximately 100 yards into the field, on a straight flight path, and at an airspeed of about 30 to 35 knots when the accident occurred. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter at the accident site. The helicopter was resting in the middle of a seed corn field about 800 feet south of a road. The corn stalks were approximately 7 feet tall. The helicopter fuselage was setting upright on its skids and oriented on a 160-degree magnetic heading. Damaged corn stalks preceded the helicopter by approximately 15 feet. A 6-inch piece of a tail rotor blade was located 20 feet north of the helicopter fuselage. The main mast was torn loose atop the cabin area. All 3 main rotor blades were found intact. The outer portion of one main rotor blade showed blue paint smears similar in color to the blue stripes along the helicopter's fuselage and tail boom. The blade was broken 2-feet inboard of the tip. The second blade also showed blue paint smears on its outer portion. The third blade showed red paint smears similar in color to the red paint on the tail rotor blades near the tip. This blade also showed damage indicative of striking a tail rotor blade. The push-pull tubes to the swash plate were broken. The tail boom was severed aft of the fuselage. The fuel tank was broken loose and ruptured. Three gallons of fuel was observed in the fuel tank and was indicative of 100 octane low lead aviation fuel. There was also a 3-foot long puddle of fuel beneath the helicopter fuselage. The helicopter's lower fin, a portion of the tail rotor push-pull control rod, and several small parts were located 60 feet west of the helicopter. Control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the helicopter's engine, transmission, and other systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8733F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8733F), registered now, S/N 22-0052 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269A - Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 22-0052 - Airframe hours: 2380 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Dennis L. Jarman - Registered owner: James A. Nergenah - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 2000, 140 hours before - Departed: JACKSONVILLE, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 6, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 2,867 total, 108 in this make and model, 2,750 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: IJX, 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 20010722019299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010722019299A), Jul 22, 2001: Hughes 269A, Jacksonville, IL, No damage. (.19) On July 22, 2001, at 1130 central daylight time, a Hughes 269A helicopter, N8733F, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it… ## Other investigations on N8733F (4) 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 NYC75FFJ11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75FFJ11), Sep 12, 1974: Hughes 269A (N8733F), Groveland, NY, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW67A0122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67A0122), Jun 30, 1967: Hughes 269A (N8733F), Tulsa, OK, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW67A0027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67A0027), Sep 3, 1966: Hughes 269A (N8733F), Tulsa, OK, destroyed - [NTSB FTW66A0084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66A0084), Mar 28, 1966: Hughes 269A (N8733F), Tulsa, OK, 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. --- 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.