Hughes 269C N58197

Summary

On 2 May 1988 at about 17:20 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N58197 was involved in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 May 1988 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.1904, -82.1505

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N58197

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Charlotte

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL88LA161

2 people were seriously injured.

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

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO DROP. SHORTLY AFTER HE TOOK OFF FROM AN OPEN FIELD. HE OPENED THE THROTTLE FURTHER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN RPM BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ONTO A BLDG ROOF AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND WHILE AVOIDING PWR LINES AND OTHER OBSTACLES. POST-CRASH EXAM REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE-CABLE END-FITTING HAD SEPARATED FROM THE THROTTLE CABLE PUSHROD AT THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE FITTING AND PUSHROD JOINING THREADS REVEALED UNEVEN WEAR THAT HAD RESULTED FROM FRETTING. SERVICE NOTICE N-196 ISSUED BY THE MFR REQUIRES INSPECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FOR WEAR EVERY 100 OPERATING HRS. THE NOTICE WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH AT THE LAST INSPECTION 4 FLT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT MAINT RECORDS, THE NOTICE WAS LAST COMPLIED WITH ABOUT 189 HRS EARLIER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.