Hughes 369C N8311F

Summary

On 10 April 1992 at about 00:00 local time, a Hughes 369C registered N8311F, operated by Voyager, Inc, was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. 2 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.

Date

10 April 1992 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pacific Ocean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 369C

Registration

N8311F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Voyager, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA175

2 people had minor injuries.

AN UNDETERMINED FAILURE IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS COMPLETING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT (FISH SPOTTING) OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEAR THE ISLAND OF CANTON AND WAS LANDING ON THE SHIP'S HELIPAD. WHEN THE SKIDS TOUCHED DOWN, THE ROTOR MAST ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE ROTOR MAST BASE CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TURN TO THE LEFT 90 DEGREES. THE ROTOR MAST ASSEMBLY AND ALL ITS COMPONENTS FELL INTO THE OCEAN AND WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ABNORMAL CYCLIC MOVEMENTS OR ANY UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE. THE HELICOPTER HAD ACCRUED 328.5 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION. A 300-HOUR AND A 100-HOUR INSPECTION HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ROTOR MAST BASE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED OVERLOAD CHARACTERISTICS WITH SOME POST FRACTURE MECHANICAL SMEARING AND DAMAGE. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CORROSION OR FATIGUE WAS FOUND. THE HARDNESS MEASUREMENTS COMPLIED WITH THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.