# NTSB NYC82DFJ11: Hughes 500, N8690F, Little Valley, NY, March 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1982, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Little Valley, NY
- Coordinates: 42.240139, -78.789031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2401&lon=-78.7890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82DFJ11
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71449/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DFJ11

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,ram air/induction air - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - warning system(other) - erratic (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF IN HEAVY, WET, BLOWING SNOW, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AT THAT TIME, THE HELICOPTER WAS AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. AT THE FIRST INDICATION OF A POWER LOSS, THE PILOT INITIATED AND COMPLETED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD AND STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THE AUTO REIGNITION FUNCTIONED AND THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME OF LANDING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PARTICLE SEPARATOR HAD BECOME COMPLETELY CLOGGED WITH SNOW. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE ADVANCE WARNING FROM THE PARTICLE SEPARATOR DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SENSOR AND COCKPIT WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM. THEREFORE, HE DID NOT MANUALLY RELEASE THE PARTICLE SEPARATOR BYPASS DOOR PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FLAME-OUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8690F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 165D
- Airframe hours: 1829
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 375 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Evirogas,Inc.
- Registered owner: Evirogas,Inc.
- Departed: ELLICOTTVILLE, NY
- Destination: MAYVILLE, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 3,782 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 82 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFD

## 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 19820302002899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820302002899A), Mar 2, 1982: Hughes 369D, Napoli, NY, Substantial damage. Engine flameout in heavy wet blowing snow. Made hard autorotate landing. Engine air inlet clogged with snow.

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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