Hughes 369D N8353F

Summary

On 23 January 2001 at about 15:45 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N8353F was involved in an accident near Ely, Nevada, United States. 4 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

23 January 2001 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ely, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

39.2472, -114.8677

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N8353F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ely → Ely

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA079

Nobody was injured.

The mechanic's inadvertent activation of the bleed valve, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and loss of engine power while in cruise flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The single engine helicopter experienced a loss of engine power after the oil was inadvertently pumped overboard. A company mechanic replaced the torque gauge prior to the accident flight due to needle "bounce." The mechanic bled the torque system and reinstalled a radio that was removed to facilitate the work. During the radio installation, he inadvertently engaged the bleed valve, which is located behind the instrument panel, allowing oil to flow out of the engine from behind the instrument panel. While at 9,500 feet, the engine lost power and the pilot performed an autorotation landing to a field at the base of mountains. The pilot said he touched down smooth and light; however, the main rotor blades flexed and severed the tail boom. As a result of the accident, the operator rerouted the torque system bleed line toward the pilot's feet so that they could detect an inadvertent oil leak.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.