# NTSB FTW90GA185: Hughes 369HS, N71552, New Orleans, LA, September 21, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1990, 18:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Coordinates: 29.94926, -90.2108 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9493&lon=-90.2108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23050
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90GA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23050/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90GA185

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSE OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - movement restricted (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS HOLDING TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 70 KNOTS AND 300 FEET AGL AWAITING LANDING CLEARANCE WHEN THE TURBINE ENGINE FLAMED OUT. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN ATHLETIC FIELD. HE FLARED ABRUPTLY TO AVOID A BASEBALL BACKSTOP AND LANDED HARD. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DROOPED AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED AN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED FLOAT ARM. APPROXIMATELY 250 ML OF JET FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE MAIN FUEL CELL. AN AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WAS FOUND FULL OF FUEL WITH THE PILOT COCKPIT CONTROL LEVER IN THE OFF POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71552](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71552-2022-05-09), registration cancelled 2022-05-09, S/N 120365S, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 120365S
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: Steel City Aviation
- Airport: NEW, Lakefront

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 10,250 total, 350 in this make and model, 9,925 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NEW, 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 19900921061539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900921061539I), Sep 21, 1990: Hughes 369HS, New Orleans, LA, Minor damage. Engine lost power during autorotive descent. Made near vertical descent due to obstructions.

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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