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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 18, 1991 · Hughes 269B · N11XC

Brickeys, AR

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 18, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Brickeys, AR
Aircraft
Hughes 269B
Tail Number
N11XC
Operator
Southern Flying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW91FA123

The aircraft impacted vertically in a heavily wooded swamp. Evidence indicated that the aircraft impacted with a high vertical rate of descent and low rotor RPM. Investigation revealed that the belt drive clutch engagement cable had separated due to abrasion caused by internal contact between the cable and assembly components. Separation of the cable resulted in a disconnect between the engine and the transmission. Review of the aircraft maintenance records could not determine the exact total time on the cable; however, the records did indicate that the cable had last been disassembled and inspected about 636.8 hours before the accident. A manufacturer's service information notice had been issued on the cable assembly which required an initial inspection within 50 hours and a recurring inspection every 400 hours thereafter, until the unit was replaced with an improved model. The aircraft maintenance records did not indicate compliance with the information notice; however, the operator stated that the inspections were being performed.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE DUE TO FRAYING WHICH INITIATED THE FORCED LANDING AND THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PERFORM RECOMMENDED INSPECTIONS ON THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED VERTICALLY IN A HEAVILY WOODED SWAMP. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WITH A HIGH VERTICAL RATE OF DESCENT AND LOW ROTOR RPM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE BELT DRIVE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT CABLE HAD SEPARATED DUE TO ABRASION CAUSED BY INTERNAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE CABLE AND ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS. SEPARATION OF THE CABLE RESULTED IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION. REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE EXACT TOTAL TIME ON THE CABLE; HOWEVER, THE RECORDS DID INDICATE THAT THE CABLE HAD LAST BEEN DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED ABOUT 636.8 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE INFORMATION NOTICE HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE CABLE ASSEMBLY WHICH REQUIRED AN INITIAL INSPECTION WITHIN 50 HOURS AND A RECURRING INSPECTION EVERY 400 HOURS THEREAFTER, UNTIL THE UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH AN IMPROVED MODEL. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE INFORMATION NOTICE; HOWEVER, THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE INSPECTIONS WERE BEING PERFORMED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:25 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 269B
Tail NumberN11XC
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSouthern Flying Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 4 kt, gusting 2 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data