- Date
- March 25, 1995, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Burnet, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3961HHughes 369HS
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 23, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950325005439A
- Case key
- 19377
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure by the pilot-in-command to maintain rotor RPM during the autorotation and his delayed flare. A factor was: the pilot's failure to use the fuel boost pump while using aviation gasoline vice jet fuel.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While conducting an air tour flight at an air show, the pilot fueled the turbine powered helicopter which normally uses jet 'a' fuel. The facility where he was had only 100LL aviation gasoline so he added 15 gallons to the less than 10 gallons of jet fuel on board. Twenty two minutes into the flight, to a facility where jet fuel was available, the helicopter had a partial power loss and the pilot performed an autorotation which terminated in a hard landing. According to the operating manual, jet fuel and aviation gasoline may be mixed; however, when this is done the fuel boost pump must be used while operating. The pilot did not have the fuel boost pump on.
Factual narrative
On March 25, 1995, at 1400 central standard time, a Hughes 369HS helicopter, N3961H, sustained substantial damage during an autorotation approximately 11 miles north of Burnet, Texas, following a loss of power. The pilot and two passengers received no injuries and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area sightseeing flight. The flight departed Llano, Texas, 22 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot was providing air tour rides at an air show at Llano and was in need of fuel for the helicopter. He had less than 10 gallons of Jet A on board and Llano did not have jet fuel. According to available information, the pilot added 15 gallons of 100 LL aviation gasoline and took off for Burnet where he could get jet fuel. Approximately 22 minutes into the flight, according to the pilot, a partial power loss occurred and the pilot conducted a full autorotation which terminated in a "hard landing."
According to the aircraft operating manual, a mix of jet fuel and aviation gasoline is allowed; however, when this is done the boost pump must be used during flight due to possible vaporization of the aviation gasoline upstream from the fuel control. The pilot did not utilize the boost pump.
An examination of the engine was conducted at the facilities of the manufacturer. No evidence was found of preimpact damage which would have prevented the engine from operating.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3961H
- Reported as
- Hughes 369HS
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 520378S
- Airframe hours
- 5,020
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Crystal Finger Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 22, 1994 · 118 hours before
- Departed
- 6R9 · Llano, TX
- Destination
- T27 · TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 110 in this make and model · 2,800 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 14 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.