SEA83LA032

NTSB accident investigation · Hughes 369HS · Chemult, OR · December 15, 1982

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: December 15, 1982, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place: Chemult, OR
Injuries: 2 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N90876Hughes 369HS
Weather: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report December 15, 1983
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19821215067489A
Case key: 70211

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

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Analysis

The flt encountered heavy snow enroute & the eng quit. During the autorotation the plt maneuvered to avoid hitting a railroad signal trestle but struck several railroad signal cables & crashed. The acft was not equipped with a particle separator, nor was the installed inlet screen designed to handle heavy snow. Additionally, the acft was not equipped with an auto-relite system. The AFM prohibits flt in falling snow without the auto-relite system installed.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal

Weather condition - snowFactor

Flight into known adverse weather - continuedPilot in commandCause

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalCruise - normal

Fuel system,ram air/induction air - iceCause

Forced landingManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

Autorotation - performedPilot in command

In flight collision with objectManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

Aircraft

Registration: N90876
Reported as: Hughes 369HS
Category: Helicopter
Serial number: 10901145
Airframe hours: 2,664
Engine: Allison 250-C18, 278 horsepower, turbo shaft
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Ferry · Part 91
Operator: Timothy W. Hasler
Registered owner: Timothy W. Hasler
Departed: C · Klamath Falls, OR
Destination: C · Troutdale, OR
Flight plan: VFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 31
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Helicopter
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours: 2,049 total · 674 in this make and model · 2,002 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind: 180° at 20 knots
Temperature: 90 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19821215067489AHughes 369HS · Chemult, OREngine quit while flying in heavy wet snow. Helicopter not equipped with a particle separator or reignition kit.Dec 15, 1982 · N90876 · Substantial damage