# NTSB FTW92LA199: Hughes 369HS, N501FH, Monroe, LA, August 3, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1992, 16:13 local (21:13 UTC)
- Place: Monroe, LA
- Location: 32.5106° N, 92.0361° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MONROE RGNL (MLU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5106&lon=-92.0361&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18548
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18548/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA199

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING AUTOROTATION. FACTORS WERE THE TAILWIND AND THE POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRACK THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE DEPARTURE WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AND THE WINDS WERE FROM THE WEST AT 5 KNOTS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL AND APPROXIMATELY 35 KNOTS AIRSPEED, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE GRASS ABEAM A RUNWAY. DURING THE FLARE THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE SKID GEAR AND SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY WITH NO ANOMALIES NOTED. ADDITIONAL TESTS ON THE ENGINE'S RELATED SYSTEMS DID NOT REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N501FH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501FH-2002-02-25), registration cancelled 2002-02-25, S/N 810338S, 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-C10D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c10d) (registry code 03035, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 810338S
- Airframe hours: 8857
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Coffman, Leslie R.
- Registered owner: Coffman, Leslie R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1992, 10 hours before
- Departed: MLU
- Airport: MLU, Monroe Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,700 total, 240 in this make and model, 10,900 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920803028769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920803028769A), Aug 3, 1992: Hughes 369HS, Monroe, LA, Substantial damage. Reported flameout on initial climb on test flight. Autorotated to hard impact. Chopped tailboom. Cause undetermined

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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