ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 217215
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| Date: | Sunday 12 January 1997 |
| Time: | 10:26 |
| Type: |  Hughes 369D |
| Owner/operator: | Imua Air Service |
| Registration: | N7012G |
| MSN: | 51-0981D |
| Year of manufacture: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3804 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Kamuela, Hawaii, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter was being operated in a marine environment. The pilot reported he lost engine power during the initial takeoff climb and autorotated to an open field. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blades severed the tailboom. Examination of the engine fuel filter, the fuel control unit (FCU) screen, and the fuel nozzle screen revealed contamination in the fuel system. The helicopter had been inspected in accordance with the manufacturer's 100/300 hour inspection about 21.2 flight hours before the accident. There were no reports of the engine fuel filter bypassing or the fuel filter caution light illuminating. The manufacturer's inspection program does not require the inspection of the fuel screens at the 100 or 300 hour intervals. The airframe manufacturer's maintenance manual does indicate that a conditional inspection be performed after the fuel filter caution light has illuminated. Review of the conditional inspection procedures revealed the FCU screen is to be removed and cleaned; however, there is no requirement for the removal and cleaning of the nozzle screen, which is downstream of the FCU screen, before the part's 2,500 hour overhaul cycle.
Probable Cause: fuel system contamination resulting in a partial loss of power, and the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate rotor rpm to cushion the autorotative landing and prevent main rotor blade contact with the tailboom. Factors were the inadequacy of manufacturer's maintenance inspection procedures for aircraft operated in a marine environment.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001208X07317&key=1
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 8 May 2018 | N514PA | Airborne Aviation LLC | 0 | near Lumahai, Kauai, HI | |
non |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Nov-2018 20:56 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 15-Jun-2023 05:25 | Ron Averes | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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