Hughes 369D N58400

Summary

On 24 September 1994 at about 00:30 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N58400, operated by Caribbean Fishing Co., was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 1994 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pacific Ocean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N58400

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Caribbean Fishing Co.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA387

2 people were seriously injured.

failure of the helicopter's main rotor pitch change link (control rod). The helicopter was not recovered and the Safety Board was unable to determine the pitch change link's failure mode.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN ABOUT 480 FEET ABOVE THE OCEAN. THE CYCLIC CONTROL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN PILOT'S HAND. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TRACK WAS NOTICED TO BE ABOVE ITS NORMAL TIP PATH PLANE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED ON ITS FLOATS AND BEFORE IT SANK, THE PILOT SAW THE YELLOW CODED PITCH CHANGE LINK (CONTROL ROD) HANGING FROM THE SWASH PLATE. THE HELICOPTER SANK INTO THE OCEAN AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.