- Date
- September 15, 1987, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plainfield, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8927FHughes 269A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 27, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870915053069A
- Case key
- 13559
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While maneuvering at about 4 feet above ground level the pilot experienced a loss of engine power and entered an uncontrolled right turn and descent, colliding with the ground. The engine power loss was due to the failure of a stud and bolt holding the crankshaft idler gear shaft in place. This failure caused the crankshaft idler gear to disengage from the crankshaft and camshaft main gears, resulting in power loss.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8927F
- Reported as
- Hughes 269A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1130310
- Airframe hours
- 2,664
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-A1A, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Harold E Miller, doing business as Harold'S Helicopter Service
- Registered owner
- American Pride Car Wash Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 15, 1986 · 228 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,663 total · 1,185 in this make and model · 1,499 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MDW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8927F · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.