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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 12, 1983 · Hiller H-23D · N3201F

Humble, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Humble, TX
Aircraft
Hiller H-23D
Tail Number
N3201F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW83LA085

The helicopter made a hard autorotative landing after a power loss. The pilot stated he was hovering about 75 ft AGL waiting for ground personnel to attach a line to his external sling load when the engine decelerated to flight idle and he could not regain power. He initiated an autorotation but the RPM had decayed and a hard landing resulted. After the accident, the pilot said he found the PY accumulator from the engine governor laying on the ground a short distance from the helicopter. After the accident, before finding the accumulator, the pilot had started the engine. He stated it ran okay but would not accelerate above 30 percent. Investigation revealed that the Allison 250 turbine will operate at only about 30 percent of its rated RPM without the PY accumulator. The pilot thought the accumulator should be safety attached to preclude separation from vibration. The pilot said that the subject parts had been reinstalled on his helicopter after removal for maintenance only 2 and one half hours prior to the crash.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD AUTOROTATIVE LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HOVERING ABOUT 75 FT AGL WAITING FOR GROUND PERSONNEL TO ATTACH A LINE TO HIS EXTERNAL SLING LOAD WHEN THE ENGINE DECELERATED TO FLT IDLE AND HE COULD NOT REGAIN POWER. HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION BUT THE RPM HAD DECAYED AND A HARD LANDING RESULTED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT SAID HE FOUND THE PY ACCUMULATOR FROM THE ENGINE GOVERNOR LAYING ON THE GROUND A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE HELICOPTER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT BEFORE FINDING THE ACCUMULATOR THE PILOT HAD STARTED THE ENGINE. HE STATED IT RAN OK BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 PERCENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ALLISON 250 TURBINE WILL OPERATE AT ONLY ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ITS RATED RPM WITHOUT THE PY ACCUMULATOR. THE PILOT THOUGHT THE ACCUMULATOR SHOULD BE SAFETY ATTACHED TO PRECLUDE SEPARATION FROM VIBRATION. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE SUBJECT PARTS HAD BEEN REINSTALLED ON HIS HELICOPTER AFTER REMOVAL FOR MAINTENANCE ONLY 2 AND ONE HALF HRS PRIOR TO THE CRASH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHiller H-23D
Tail NumberN3201F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 133
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20 · Turboshaft
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data