# NTSB ERA10LA053: Hughes 369, N89ZC, Baxley, GA, November 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 2009, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Baxley, GA - Coordinates: 31.741388, -82.362777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7414&lon=-82.3628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA053 ## 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. ## 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 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) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: 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) - [Autorotation: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=4470706), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the helicopter lost engine power less than a minute after takeoff and rolled over onto its left side during the subsequent autorotation. The pilot stated that the cause of the loss of engine power was because the “main fuel valve was pulled causing fuel starvation to the engine.” He also stated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 2009, about 1130 eastern standard time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N89ZC, registered to Extreme Helicopters Inc, crashed into a field while conducting an autorotation following a loss of engine power, in Baxley, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was originating from a private residence in Baxley, Georgia. According to the pilot, the helicopter lost power less than a minute after takeoff. The helicopter rolled over onto its left side during the subsequent autorotation, substantially damaging the main rotor blades and airframe. The pilot further stated that the cause of the loss of engine power was that the “main fuel valve was pulled causing fuel starvation to the engine." Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the helicopter on its left side, with damage to the main rotor blades and tail rotor. ## 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 369 (D) - 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 - Airframe hours: 7948 - Engines: ALLISON 250 420 lbs thrust turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2009, 3 hours before - Departed: PVT, Baxley, GA - Destination: PVT, Baxley, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 540 total, 322 in this make and model, 480 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: AMG, 1 nm away ## 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 CEN14LA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA398), Jul 29, 2014: Hughes 369D (N89ZC), West Liberty, OH, substantial damage. 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. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75025. 288 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.