# NTSB LAX08LA139: Hughes 369FF, N530R, Kekaha, HI, May 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2008, 11:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Kekaha, HI - Location: 21.9679° N, 159.7152° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kekaha, HI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 22.081943, -158.759445 (estimated), outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.9679&lon=-159.7152&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA139 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot reported that he was conducting long-line operations when he heard a loud "popping" sound and moments later the helicopter's engine lost power. The pilot released the long line with its cargo and performed an autorotation to the ground. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no discrepancies that would have prevented normal engine operation. The engine was removed from the helicopter, placed in an engine test cell, and started. It was taken through a series of timed accelerations and decelerations where it performed to production test standards. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2008, approximately 1140 Hawaiian standard time, a Hughes 369FF, N530R, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following an autorotation to ground subsequent to a loss of engine power near Kekaha, Hawaii. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Inter-Island Helicopters was operating the helicopter under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, long line operations. The flight originated from a temporary helicopter pad, approximately 20 minutes before the accident. The pilot reported that he was conducting long line operations when he heard a loud "popping" sound, and moments later, the engine lost power. The pilot released the long line with its cargo, and performed an autorotation to the ground. The helicopter landed hard, and the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and the engine manufacturer revealed no discrepancies that would have prevented normal engine operation. On July 9, 2008, the engine was placed in an engine run test cell at the manufacturer's facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. The engine was started, and taken through a series of timed accelerations and decelerations where it performed to Production Test Standards. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: N530R (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369FF - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0005F - Airframe hours: 15094 - Engines: Allison 250-C30 425 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: External load, Part 133 - Operator: Smoky Mountain Helicopters, doing business as Inter-Island Helicopters - Registered owner: Smoky Mountain Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2008 - Departed: PAK, Kekaha, HI - Destination: PAK, Hanapepe, HI - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: HBK, 8 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 20080514838179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080514838179A), May 14, 2008: Hughes 369FF, Waimea, HI, Substantial damage. (-23) Helicopter, landed hard on a road 20 miles west of lihue, HI, after encountering a compressor stall. Injuries: none, damage: substantial. Visual… 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.