Hughes 269C N58397

Summary

On 2 July 1984 at about 21:45 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N58397 was involved in an accident near Mt. St. Helens, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 July 1984 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Mt. St. Helens, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

None

Coordinates

46.1393, -122.7995

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N58397

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Scappoose → Mt St Helens

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA84LA153

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE 5500 FT LEVEL ON MT. ST. HELENS. DENSITY ALT AT THE TIME WAS 7500 FT. AT APRX 40-50 FT AGLENGINE AND ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY RAPIDLY. THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON A ROCK LEDGE WITH ONE SKID PARTIALLY OFF THE LEDGE.AS ROTOR RPM CONTINUED TO DECAY THE ROTOR DISC COULD NO LONGER SUPPORT THE HELICOPTER AND IT ROLLED 100 FT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. MAINTENANCE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL SPARK PLUGS WERE SEVERLY WORN. WHEN TESTED, FOUR OUT OF EIGHT PLUGS FIRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE LEFT MAGNETO ALSO HAD BURNED POINTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.