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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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February 4, 1986 · Hughes 269B · N9374F

Council, NC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 4, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Council, NC
Aircraft
Hughes 269B
Tail Number
N9374F
Operator
Raymond Godwin Jr
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL86LA069

DURING A CONTROL BURNING OPERATION, THE PLT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENG FAILURE. THE PLT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE ENG EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM FATIGUE CRACKING NEAR THE CRANKSHAFT AND INSERT CONNECTION.

Full Narrative

DURING A CONTROL BURNING OPERATION, THE PLT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENG FAILURE. THE PLT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE ENG EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE RESULTED FROM FATIGUE CRACKING NEAR THE CRANKSHAFT AND INSERT CONNECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 EST
Nearest Airport30nm E
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 269B
Tail NumberN9374F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRaymond Godwin Jr
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind180°
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data