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August 11, 2014 · Hughes 269C · N7432F

Darrington, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 11, 2014
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Darrington, WA
Aircraft
Hughes 269C (1976)
Tail Number
N7432F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR14LA340

The commercial pilot was conducting a local, personal flight in the rented helicopter. The pilot reported that, while descending the helicopter from 5,000 ft and approaching 4,000 ft, he increased the collective and noticed that the engine was slowing down; he was unable to recover the engine rpm to a normal range. The helicopter continued to descend until the pilot entered an autorotation. The helicopter then impacted a tree and came to rest in a small stream. The pilot stated that he did not believe that the engine ever quit but that it did not produce enough power to continue flight. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that the throttle mount bracket was hanging by the throttle cable linkage and was not secured to the servo mount studs, which would have led to the loss of throttle movement for acceleration. The operator stated that the engine had been installed in the helicopter 10 flight hours before the accident. It is likely that maintenance personnel did not properly secure the throttle mount bracket during the engine installation, which led to the loss of throttle movement and inability to control engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

Maintenance personnel’s failure to secure the throttle mount bracket during a recent engine installation, which resulted in the loss of throttle movement and an inability to control engine power.

Full Narrative

On August 11, 2014, about 1130 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Hughes 269C Helicopter, N7432F, impacted terrain following a partial loss of engine power near Darrington, Washington. The airline transport pilot was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Snohomish Flying Service (SFS) was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The local personal flight departed Snohomish, Washington, about 0815. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that during a flight in the rented helicopter he was descending out of 5,000 ft. As he approached 4,000 ft, he increased collective and noticed that the engine was slowing down; he was unable to recover the engine rpm to a normal range. The helicopter continued to descend until the pilot entered an autorotation. The helicopter impacted a tree about 30 ft high and then came to rest in a small stream. The pilot stated he did not believe the engine ever quit, but the engine would not produce enough power to continue flight. The helicopter was recovered on August 12, 2014, by SFS and examined by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors with assistance from SFS personnel. They found that the throttle mount bracket was hanging by the throttle cable linkage and was not secured to the servo mount studs as it should have been. This would prevent the loss of throttle movement for acceleration. The operator stated that the engine had just been installed into the helicopter 10 flight hours prior to the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 269C
Tail NumberN7432F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-D1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter29.93 inHg
Observation Time17:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data