# NTSB CHI92IA079: Aerospatiale AS-355F1, N101UM, Lansing, MI, January 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 26, 1992, 18:28 local (23:28 UTC)
- Place: Lansing, MI
- Coordinates: 42.790321, -84.589576 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7903&lon=-84.5896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15323
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92IA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15323/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92IA079

## Probable cause

A FATIGUE FAILURE OF A FUEL SYSTEM LINE FITTING DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,line fitting - fatigue (cause)
  - fuel system,line fitting - failure,total
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE INCIDENT HELICOPTER PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER HE SMELLED SMOKE AND THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT FIRE WARNING/SMOKE DETECTOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED.  A POST INCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF A UNION JOINING A FUEL PIPE ASSEMBLY TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE RIGHT (#2) ENGINE CASE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N101UM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-355F1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 5073
- Airframe hours: 3387
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Corporate Jets Inc.
- Registered owner: Top Spin Data Corp. Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 3, 1992, 31 hours before
- Departed: NONE, LUDINGTON, MI
- Destination: M132, ANN ARBOR, MI
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: LAN, Capital City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 8,586 total, 2,366 in this make and model, 7,946 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAN, 1 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).

- [Incident 19920126003879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920126003879I), Jan 26, 1992: Aerosp AS355E, Lansing, MI. Smoke warning and odor in cockpit. Emergency landing. Fitting in fuel differential pressure system of engine broken

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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