Hughes 369C N9230F
4 December 1992 · Kamuela, Hawaii, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 December 1992 at about 17:18 local time, a Hughes 369C registered N9230F, operated by Mauna KEA Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Kamuela, Hawaii, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:18
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kamuela, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 20.0393, -155.6992
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369C
- Registration
- N9230F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Mauna KEA Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX93LA062
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE INADEQUATE 100-HOUR INSPECTION PERFORMED BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE THE FUEL CONTROL EXCEEDING THE MANUFACTURERS' SERVICE LIMITS; THE INOPERATIVE FUEL FILTER; THE OVERTEMPERATURE OF THE GAS GENERATOR TURBINE AND FREE TURBINE WHEELS; AND THE FALSE INDICATIONS OF THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE INDICATOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO A NEARBY ROAD. ON TOUCH DOWN THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BUCKLING THE LEFT SKID. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE TURBINE WHEELS SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISTRESS. THE FUEL CONTROL EXCEEDED ITS SERVICE LIMITS ON THE START AND ACCELERATION SCHEDULES. THE FUEL FILTER VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE BYPASS POSITION WITH ITS SPRING RUSTED AND THE VALVE SEAT CONTAINED DIRT PARTICLES. THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE INDICATOR GAVE FALSE INDICATIONS, A LOWER THAN APPLIED TEMPERATURE, THROUGHOUT ITS OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS WHICH EXCEEDED THE SERVICABLE TOLERANCES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1992 | Hughes 369E | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | Hillsboro Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1992 | Hughes 369HS | Scotts Mills, Oregon, United States | Kenram Corp | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1992 | Hughes 369C | Pacific Ocean | Voyager, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 1992 | Hughes 369D | Edison, New Jersey, United States | Sun DUN Inc. of Washington | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Nov 1992 | Hughes 369D | Carlsbad, California, United States | Haverfield Corporation | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1992 | Hughes 369B | Fallbrook, California, United States | Haverfield Corporation | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Kaaawa, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Intl Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 7 Nov 1992 | Schweizer SGS 2-32 | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | Honolulu Soaring Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Bell 206B-III | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Paramount Pictures | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1992 | Hughes 269B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Maui Wing and Rotor | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Cessna 185F | Lanai, Hawaii, United States | Wings of Hope, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1992 | Hughes 369D | Volcanoes Ntl P, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | No injuries | - |