# NTSB CHI87LA098: Hughes 269B, N9522F, South Bend, IN, March 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1987, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: South Bend, IN
- Coordinates: 41.71923, -86.329429 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7192&lon=-86.3294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13746
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13746/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA098

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - open field
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor rpm - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AFTER DEPARTURE FROM AURORA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, HE LANDED AT AN AIRFIELD WEST OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS AND PICKED UP THE TWO PASSENGERS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE THEN DEPARTED FOR ELKHART, INDIANA. ACCORDING TO AN INDIANA STATE POLICE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT, WHILE EN ROUTE TO ELKHART, THE PLT OBSERVED AN ILLUMINATED LOW FUEL LIGHT AND DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, ABOUT THREE MILES SOUTHWEST OF MICHIANA REGIONAL AIRPORT, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. THE REPORT FURTHER STATES THAT THE GAS TANK OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND EMPTY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, 'SUBSTANTIAL ACFT DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING FLARE AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9522F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9522F-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 580364 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 58-0364
- Airframe hours: 7000
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-AIA 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sportflight Helicopter, Inc.
- Registered owner: Sportflight Helicopter Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, March 10, 1987, 3 hours before
- Departed: ARR, AURORA, IL
- Destination: EKM, ELKHART, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 127 total, 34 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 3 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 19870317006279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870317006279A), Mar 17, 1987: Hughes 269B, South Bend, IN, Substantial damage. The helicopter was damaged in a hard, precautionary landing. Fuel low light led pilot to land. Fuel tank empty.

## Other investigations on N9522F (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 CHI88FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA190), Aug 2, 1988: Mcdonnell Douglas 269B (N9522F), Braceville, IL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: CONDUCTING MANEUVERING FLIGHT THE PIC FAILED TO MONITOR THE HELICOPTER SYSTEMS AND ALLOWED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DECAY TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH LIFT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT.

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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