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May 26, 1982 · Hughes 369D · N8348F

Fairbury, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 26, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Fairbury, IL
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N8348F
Operator
Norman P Rittenhouse
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI82DA185

During flight, the N2 and NR suddenly accelerated to 110 percent. The pilot eventually shut down the engine and made an autorotation. An open field was selected for a landing site; however, it was muddy with standing water. The pilot decided on a full stop landing rather than a slide-on landing to avoid a nose over. During touchdown, the main rotor blades flexed downward and severed the tail boom. An investigation revealed there was sand and aluminum hydroxide corrosion in the turbine governor, PN 2524706-3. Also, some corrosion and foreign material was found in the fuel control unit, PN 2524644-1. Both units had 2.5 hrs of operation since they were installed on this aircraft. An inspection of the governor showed that the PG channel in the drive body was completely blocked. This blockage would have resulted in an engine overspeed of up to 112 percent. The governor had been salvaged from a helicopter that had been in an accident in Brazil. The corrosion was indicative of long term exposure to the environment.

Full Narrative

DURING FLIGHT, THE N2 AND NR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 110 PERCENT. THE PILOT EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND MADE AN AUTOROTATION. AN OPEN FIELD WAS SELECTED FOR A LANDING SITE; HOWEVER, IT WAS MUDDY WITH STANDING WATER. THE PILOT DECIDED ON A FULL STOP LANDING RATHER THAN A SLIDE-ON LANDING TO AVOID A NOSE OVER. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS SAND AND ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE CORROSION IN THE TURBINE GOVERNOR, PN 2524706-3. ALSO, SOME CORROSION AND FOREIGN MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL CONTROLUNIT, PN 2524644-1. BOTH UNITS HAD 2.5 HRS OF OPERATION SINCE THEY WERE INSTALLED ON THIS AIRCRAFT. AN INSPECTION OF THEGOVERNOR SHOWED THAT THE PG CHANNEL IN THE DRIVE BODY WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED. THIS BLOCKAGE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE OVERSPEED OF UP TO 112 PERCENT. THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN SALVAGED FROM A HELICOPTER THAT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN BRAZIL. THE CORROSION WAS INDICATIVE OF LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN8348F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNorman P Rittenhouse
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 375
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point15 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data