MKC84FA147

NTSB accident investigation · Hughes 369D · Kearney, NE · May 27, 1984

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
May 27, 1984, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
Place
Kearney, NE
Injuries
1 fatal, 3 serious, 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N5102ZHughes 369D
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19840527075169A
Case key
33528

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

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.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Weather condition - turbulenceFactor
Weather condition - downdraftFactor
In-flight planning/decision - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Aircraft handling - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in kind of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

During return to arpt from a local flight, the plt diverted to observe property of a personal friend, located along a river bank. The plt was making a right turn about 200 ft AGL at 40 to 50 KTS airspeed when vibration was felt in the anti-torque pedals & the acft entered an upright, vertical descent, spinning about the vertical axis until impacting through the roof of a metal storage building located on the property. An investigation revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction except for a slight fluctation in the free turbine governor & fuel control when the engine was test run in it's post-crash condition. The plt of the medical rescue helicopter responding to the scene stated he had difficulty controlling his acft in the vicinity of the crash due to turbulence and downdrafts in a 20 kt wind associated with dense forest along the river.

Aircraft

Registration
N5102Z
Reported as
Hughes 369D
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
911083D
Airframe hours
220
Engine
Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Dr. L.L. Hyde
Registered owner
American Display, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 21, 1984 · 20 hours before
Departed
Cornstock, NE
Destination
EAR · Kearney, NE

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
54
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,142 total · 22 in this make and model · 34,382 as pilot in command · 102 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
320° at 20 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
GRI, 35 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.