Hughes 269B N10TP

Summary

On 7 July 1996 at about 03:00 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N10TP was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 July 1996 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tampa International (TPA)

Coordinates

27.9503, -82.4607

Aircraft

Hughes 269B

Registration

N10TP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tampa → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL96TA102

2 people were seriously injured.

The failure of maintenance personnel to secure the engine oil screen housing during the 50-hour inspection.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Ten minutes into the flight, the pilot noticed a loss of engine oil pressure and a high engine oil temperature. The engine lost power, and the pilot entered an autorotation for a forced landing. The helicopter collided with high tension wires and fell to the ground. The examination of the helicopter disclosed that the engine oil pressure screen housing was loose. The Director of Aircraft Maintenance stated that on 7/05/96 a 50-hour inspection had been completed on the helicopter which included an oil change and the removal of the oil pressure screen housing for an inspection. Maintenance personnel noticed that a small puddle of oil on the ramp at the spot where the aircraft initiated the departure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.