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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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September 15, 1987 · Hughes 269A · N8927F

Plainfield, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 15, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Plainfield, IL
Aircraft
Hughes 269A
Tail Number
N8927F
Operator
Harold E Miller
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI87DEE10

WHILE MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 4 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT TURN AND DESCENT, COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A STUD AND BOLT HOLDING THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR SHAFT IN PLACE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR TO DISENGAGE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT MAIN GEARS, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS.

Full Narrative

WHILE MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 4 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT TURN AND DESCENT, COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A STUD AND BOLT HOLDING THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR SHAFT IN PLACE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR TO DISENGAGE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT MAIN GEARS, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 269A
Tail NumberN8927F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHarold E Miller
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 9 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data