# NTSB SEA97LA171: Hughes 269C, N1105B, Yamhill, OR, July 20, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1997, 17:00 local (Jul 20, 1997, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Yamhill, OR - Coordinates: 45.360549, -123.240402 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3605&lon=-123.2404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42660/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA171 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - Roll over, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The pilot was giving a sightseeing ride with a passenger in a helicopter. The pilot stated that immediately after takeoff, about 100 feet above the ground, a power fluctuation occurred in the engine, followed by a total loss of engine power. Despite the pilot's attempts to regain engine power, an autorotation to a landing became necessary. The helicopter struck the ground, rolled over, and was substantially damaged. Sufficient fuel was found on board the helicopter for engine operation. The engine and airframe underwent a detailed examination and functional test. The examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, and no abnormal operation was observed during the functional test of the engine. Inadvertent selection of the cyclic governor switch to the off position could affect engine performance during takeoff, as well as an improper adjustment of the RPM selector dial. However, no conclusive evidence was found to indicate that these situations occurred. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1997, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, N1105B, a Hughes 269C helicopter, operated by Precision Helicopters, rolled over during a forced landing and was substantially damaged in Yamhill, Oregon. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power while maneuvering. The commercial pilot was not injured, and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The business flight departed from Yamhill and was conducted under 14 CFR 91 as a local sightseeing flight. According to the pilot, in a written statement (attached) sent to the Safety Board: I proceeded with a normal departure. The throttle governor was engaged, the rotor and engine RPM were stable at 3100 RPM, the [manifold pressure] was indicating 26". Shortly after departure I experienced a power fluctuation resulting in an engine failure. I was at 100 [feet above the ground] and about 40 [miles per hour] when the failure occurred. I first attempted to switch the governor off and then back on. I then secondly tried to open and close the throttle which had no effect. By this time I had entered autorotation, the helicopter struck the ground in a tail low attitude. The helicopter then proceeded to roll over and to the right. The engine and airframe underwent a detailed examination and functional test (report attached) by a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector from Hillsboro, Oregon, on August 8, 1997, at the Chehalem Airpark in Chehalem, Oregon. The examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfuction, and no abnormal operation was observed during the funtional test of the engine. The FAA inspector stated that: ... the cyclic governor switch may have been inadvertently placed in the... off position or the RPM dial adjusted to or near the 2800 RPM position. The system design allows for RPM drop when turned off in flight. Additionally any time the engine drops below 2800 the governor is automatically taken out of the system. In a situation of having the cyclic switch placed off, the governor correlation would be turned off and the pilot would have to operate the throttle by hand. This transition, if unexpected could easily result in an engine RPM lost situation. The other situation of a low RPM setting at or near 2800, (either inadvertently bumped or incorrectly set) could lead towards RPM drop if collective was added.... No evidence was found to indicate that the cyclic governor switch was inadvertently placed in the off position, or that the RPM was adjusted to or near the 2800 RPM setting prior to impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1105B (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 411030 - Airframe hours: 1890 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Precision Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1997, 11 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 492 total, 36 in this make and model, 331 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HIO, 7 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 19970720018849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970720018849A), Jul 20, 1997: Hughes 269C, Yamhill, OR, Substantial damage. Helicopter lost power, went into autorotation, landed in a field. 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.