# NTSB SEA04LA128: Hughes 269C, N56PH, Arlington, WA, July 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2004, 20:10 local (Jul 10, 2004, 03:10 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.384998, -122.251663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3850&lon=-122.2517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59620 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59620/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA128 ## Probable cause A significant power loss for undetermined reasons while in cruise flight, leading to a full autorotational landing. Factors include no suitable terrain in the area, and soft swampy terrain at the point where the pilot found it necessary to perform the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While cruising at about 2,500 feet above the ground (agl), the pilot heard a "pop" and felt the helicopter yaw to the right. Almost immediately he noticed that the engine was starting to lose power, and he therefore lowered the collective and initiated a partial autorotation. He then attempted to get the engine to accelerate, but he continued to hear "sputtering and popping," and the engine continued to gradually lose power. The pilot therefore elected to perform a full autorotational landing in a nearby opening in the heavily wooded area he was flying over. Although he was able to touch down with only a very slow forward speed, the terrain he was landing on turned out to be a wet and muddy bog or swamp, and as the helicopter touched down, one of the skids sunk into the mud, and the aircraft rolled over onto its side. A post-accident inspection of the helicopter's engine and fuel system by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector and a fixed base operator's (FBO's) maintenance personnel did not find any evidence of an anomaly that would have lead to a loss of power in the engine. After the initial inspection was completed, the engine was mounted on an engine stand and run at various speeds for a period of about eight minutes. During the test run, the engine started easily and ran smooth at all tested speeds up to and including a maximum of 3,100 rpm. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2004, approximately 2010 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N56PH, impacted the terrain during an attempted autorotational landing about 12 miles north of Arlington, Washington. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Bellingham, Washington, about 55 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The flight was en route to Arlington, Washington. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, while cruising at about 2,500 feet above the ground (agl), he heard a "pop" and felt the helicopter yaw to the right. Almost immediately he noticed that the engine was starting to lose power, and he therefore lowered the collective and initiated a partial autorotation "...to take demands off the engine." He then attempted to get the engine to accelerate, but he continued to hear "sputtering and popping," and the engine continued to gradually lose power. The pilot therefore elected to perform a full autorotational landing in a nearby opening in the heavily wooded area he was flying over. Although he was able to touch down with only a very slow forward speed, the terrain he was landing on turned out to be a wet and muddy bog or swamp, and as the helicopter touched down, one of the skids sunk into the mud, and the aircraft rolled over onto its side. A post-accident inspection of the helicopter's engine and fuel system by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector and maintenance personnel from Precision Helicopters did not find any evidence of an anomaly that would have contributed to a loss of power in the engine. After the initial inspection was completed, the engine was mounted on an engine stand and run at various speeds for a period of about eight minutes. During the test run, the engine started easily and ran smooth at all tested speeds up to and including a maximum of 3,100 rpm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56PH-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N S1441, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1441 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert D. Grafton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BLI, Bellingham, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,344 total, 216 in this make and model, 1,335 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20040709016019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040709016019A), Jul 9, 2004: Hughes 269C, Mcmurray, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) In cruise flight near Mcmurray, WA, a bang was heard coming from engine. There was a loss of power. Pilot set up for an emergency landing in "clear cut".… 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.