# NTSB FTW99LA092: Schweizer Hughes 269C, N36254, Laredo, TX, March 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 1999, 09:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Laredo, TX - Coordinates: 27.509668, -99.499183 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5097&lon=-99.4992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA092 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a bearing shift, which resulted in fatigue cracking of the crankshaft and subsequent failure of the crankshaft. A factor was a lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, hover - engine assembly,bearing - shifted (cause) - engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The helicopter was at a 50-foot hover over a creek when the pilot heard a loud banging, followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot executed a right pedal turn and set the helicopter down hard in a creek. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was separated at the number 3 main bearing journal to number 3 connecting rod journal crossover cheek. A magnaflux examination of the crankshaft revealed that the number 3 main bearing journal displayed lateral cracks. Examination of the crankshaft fracture surfaces revealed that the crankshaft had failed in fatigue. The fracture features were damaged near the origin area; however, 'nearby crack arrest positions clearly indicated crack initiation from at least two locations on the journal surface near the crank cheek.' Examination of the number 3 bearing shell halves revealed that 'one shell had shifted relative to the other when the damage occurred.' ## Factual narrative On March 10, 1999, at 0910 central standard time, a Schweizer Hughes 269C helicopter, N36254, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while hovering near Laredo, Texas. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 local flight. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Smith Helicopters, Inc., of Laredo, Texas. The aircraft was contracted by a rancher to aid in herding cattle. During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that the helicopter was at a 50-foot hover over a creek when he heard "loud banging," followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot then applied full throttle, but the engine did not respond. The pilot then executed a "right pedal turn and set the helicopter down hard in the creek." Examination of the helicopter by an FAA inspector revealed that both landing skids had separated, the center frame was twisted, the bottom of the cabin nose was bent, and the main and tail rotor blades were damaged. Initial examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft would not rotate. On July 13, 1999, the NTSB IIC examined the Lycoming HIO-360-D1A engine (serial number L-25763-51A) at the manufacturer's facility. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was separated at the number 3 main bearing journal to number 3 connecting rod journal crossover cheek. A magnaflux inspection of the crankshaft revealed lateral cracks on the number 3 main bearing journal. The crankshaft and the number 3 bearing shell halves were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory on July 14, 1999, for further examination. According to the NTSB metallurgist, "detailed visual examination of the fracture surface revealed a flat fracture plane and crack arrest positions typical of fatigue cracking over a major portion of the fracture surface." The fracture features near the origin area were damaged; however, "nearby crack arrest positions clearly indicated crack initiation from at least two locations on the journal surface near the crank cheek." The bearing shell halves were examined and were found to be "mechanically damaged and partially extruded on the one [aft] end. Matching of the damage patterns on the bearing halves indicated that one shell had shifted relative to the other when the damage occurred." According to the airplane's maintenance records the engine was overhauled at the manufacturer's facility and was installed in the helicopter on June 26, 1997. The total time on the engine at the time of overhaul was 1,594.0 hours. A 100-hour inspection was completed on the engine on February 8, 1999 at 582.6 hours since the overhaul. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 631.0 hours since the overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36254](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36254-2021-08-05), registration cancelled 2021-08-05, S/N S1186 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer HUGHES 269C (HUGHES 269) - Registry model: [Schweizer HUGHES 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-hughes-269c) (registry code 8059500) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S1186 - Airframe hours: 3367 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Smith Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 8, 1999, 48 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,500 total, 8,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 16 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LRD, 20 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). - [Accident 19990310002129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990310002129A), Mar 10, 1999: Hughes 269C, Laredo, TX, Substantial damage. Hughes 269C helicopter was involved in aerial application when it lost power and crashed, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on March 10, 0910 central… ## Other investigations on N36254 (1) 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 ERA09CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA120), Dec 31, 2008: Schweizer 269C (N36254), Panama City, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during an out-of-ground-effect hover. 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.