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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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December 8, 1984 · Hughes 369D · N5124X

Spanish Fork, UT

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 8, 1984
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Spanish Fork, UT
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N5124X
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN85LA038

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF PLT FELT SHUTTER IN ACFT AND NOTICED A RISE IN THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMP. PLT HEARD LOW WHINE OF HIGH PITCH NOISE IN ENGINE. ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE OUT LIGHT AND HORN AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. AUTOROTATION MADE TO OPENING AT BOTTOM OF CANYON. ON TOUCHDOWN ACFT SLID FORWARD IN 1 FT DEEP SNOW, RT SKID COLLAPSED AND HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OIL STARVATION IN TURBINE AND COMPRESSOR SECTIONS. TURBINE BEARINGS FAILED, GEARBOX BEARINGS BORE EVIDENCE OF HIGH HEAT DISTORTION AND OIL STARVATION WAS EVIDENT IN COMPRESSOR BEARINGS. LUBRICATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE CHECKED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. A 1 1/8 IN DISK OF GASKET LIKE MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN OIL RESERVOIR. DISK WAS SIMILIAR TO THOSE IN CAPS ON QUARTS OF OIL. DISK WAS SAME SIZE AS OPENING TO OIL PUMP AND ENGINE. WHEN PLACED OVER OPENING OIL FLOW FROM TANK TO ENGINE WAS BLOCKED. EXTRA QTS OF OIL OFTEN WERE ON BOARD ACFT SO PLT COULD ASS OIL IF REQUIRED.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF PLT FELT SHUTTER IN ACFT AND NOTICED A RISE IN THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMP. PLT HEARD LOW WHINE OF HIGH PITCH NOISE IN ENGINE. ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE OUT LIGHT AND HORN AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. AUTOROTATION MADE TO OPENING AT BOTTOM OF CANYON. ON TOUCHDOWN ACFT SLID FORWARD IN 1 FT DEEP SNOW, RT SKID COLLAPSED AND HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OIL STARVATION IN TURBINE AND COMPRESSOR SECTIONS. TURBINE BEARINGS FAILED, GEARBOX BEARINGS BORE EVIDENCE OF HIGH HEAT DISTORTION AND OIL STARVATION WAS EVIDENT IN COMPRESSOR BEARINGS. LUBRICATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS WERE CHECKED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. A 1 1/8 IN DISK OF GASKET LIKE MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN OIL RESERVOIR. DISK WAS SIMILIAR TO THOSE IN CAPS ON QUARTS OF OIL. DISK WAS SAME SIZE AS OPENING TO OIL PUMP AND ENGINE. WHEN PLACED OVER OPENING OIL FLOW FROM TANK TO ENGINE WAS BLOCKED. EXTRA QTS OF OIL OFTEN WERE ON BOARD ACFT SO PLT COULD ASS OIL IF REQUIRED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:15 MST
Nearest Airport16nm ESE
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN5124X
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 375
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 6000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point32 C / 30 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data