Hughes 369D N5093Y

Summary

On 16 February 1988 at about 13:30 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N5093Y, operated by Haverfield Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Waterfall, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

16 February 1988 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Waterfall, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.1193, -78.0600

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N5093Y

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Haverfield Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hagerstown → Altoona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC88LA083

3 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

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD 'BOOM' AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN N2 AND RPM. A RADIO TRANSMISSION WAS MADE TO THE AIRCRAFT THAT WAS TRAILING AND THEN AN APPROACH FOR LANDING SET UP. ON LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD BUT LEVEL AND WITH THE SKIDS IN LINE WITH THE FINAL APPROACH PATH. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, 45 FEET FROM THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN POINT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT IN FLT. THE TAIL ROTOR WAS 3/4 MILE FROM THE ACC SITE. 300 YARDS FARTHER AWAY WAS A FLT BAG FROM THE HELICOPTER WITH TAIL ROTOR PAINT ON IT. THERE WERE NO DOORS ON THE HELICOPTER BECAUSE OF ITS USE IN POWER LINE PATROL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.