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NTSB Report
December 7, 1991 · Aerospatiale AS350D Astar AS350D AST · N26FH
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 7, 1991
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS350D Astar AS350D AST
Tail Number
N26FH
Operator
Equipment Leasors of Pa
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL92FA029
The news helicopter was returning from a reporting assignment at night in VMC conditions. The sole survivor, a sportscaster, reported that about 20 to 25 minutes before the crash, the engine chip light came on. The light came on and was reset by the pilot 5 to 10 times. There was also a loss of torque on the torque gauge. Subsequently, the engine lost power and the helicopter crash landed in an open field. An inspection of the engine revealed the #2 bearing had seized, resulting in failure of the compressor shaft. The #2 bearing had been replaced during recent engine maintenance, and there was only about 125 hours on the new bearing. The oil jet to the bearing was not blocked or clogged. There were torque fluctuations observed on two occasions during the week before the accident. Several components were changed in an attempt to pinpoint the problem. The survivor's seat belt failed in the crash due to an improper installation, and he was thrown clear of the wreckage.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN CONTINUING THE FLIGHT WITH A KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEM, AND THE SUBSEQUENT SEIZURE OF THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE BEARING, RESULTING IN ENGINE STOPPAGE. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Full Narrative
THE NEWS HELICOPTER WAS RETURNING FROM A REPORTING ASSIGNMENT AT NIGHT IN VMC CONDITIONS. THE SOLE SURVIVOR, A SPORTSCASTER, REPORTED THAT ABOUT 20 TO 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH, THE ENGINE CHIP LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS RESET BY THE PILOT 5 TO 10 TIMES. THERE WAS ALSO A LOSS OF TORQUE ON THE TORQUE GAUGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER & THE HELICOPTER CRASH LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE #2 BEARING HAD SEIZED, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR SHAFT. THE #2 BEARING HAD BEEN REPLACED DURING RECENT ENGINE MAINTENANCE, AND THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 125 HOURS ON THE NEW BEARING. THE OIL JET TO THE BEARING WAS NOT BLOCKED OR CLOGGED. THERE WERE TORQUE FLUCTUATIONS OBSERVED ON TWO OCCASIONS DURING THE WEEK BEFORE TO THE ACCIDENT. SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE CHANGED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. THE SURVIVOR'S SEAT BELT FAILED IN THE CRASH DUE TO AN IMPROPER INSTALLATION, AND HE WAS THROWN CLEAR OF THE WRECKAGE.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:15 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftAerospatiale AS350D Astar AS350D AST
Tail NumberN26FH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorEquipment Leasors of Pa
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTS-101-600A2 · Turboshaft · 590
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal3
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind170° @ 3 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 30 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time04:50
Weather SourceWFAC