Hughes 369D N113RS

Summary

On 22 December 1992 at about 00:00 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N113RS, operated by Mauna KEA Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 December 1992 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hilo, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

19.6903, -155.0807

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N113RS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Mauna KEA Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kamuela → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA071

Nobody was injured.

THE BEARING FAILURES DUE TO THE OPERATOR'S USE OF IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND OVERHAUL PROCEDURES BY INSTALLING AN UNSERVICEABLE COMPRESSOR MODULE IN THE HELICOPTER ENGINE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE TAIL WIND CONDITION DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CRUISE THE PILOT DETECTED A BUFFETING IN THE AIRFRAME FOLLOWED BY A LEFT YAW. THE ENGINE GAGES INDICATED DECREASING POWER OUTPUT WITH A HIGH TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE, AND, THE ENGINE CHIP AND FAILURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION AND HAD TO STRETCH THE GLIDE SLIGHTLY TO REACH THE ONLY SUITABLE AREA WHICH INVOLVED A DOWN WIND LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR SLICED OFF THE TAIL BOOM AS THE HELICOPTER SLID TO A STOP. REVIEW OF THE OPERATORS DAILY FLIGHT SHEETS FOR THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT A ENGINE CHIP LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THIS ONE. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN WAS TO CLEAN THE CHIP PLUG AND REINSTALL IT. NO TEST FLIGHT AND FURTHER CHECK OF THE PLUG WAS DONE AS REQUIRED IN THE MAINTENANCE MANUALS. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 1 AND 2 BEARINGS IN THE COMPRESSOR MODULE HAD FAILED. REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE COMPRESSOR MODULE WAS FORMERLY INSTALLED IN AN ENGINE WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN A HELICOPTER ACCIDENT IN MAY OF 1992. THE COMPRESSOR MODULE WAS NOT DISASSEMBLED FOR INSPECTION AS REQUIRED IN THE OVERHAUL AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL, AND WAS NOT SIGNED OFF FOR RETURN TO SERVICE. IT WAS INSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER ENGINE ON NOVEMBER 21, 1992.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.