N89ZCHughes 369D · 1981

On March 5, 2019, about 1110 eastern standard time, an MD Helicopters 369D, N89ZC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Talking Rock, Georgia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 external load flight.

The pilot was using a 10-bladed aerial saw to trim trees along power lines, and was to complete three passes (upper, middle, and lower) to trim the full height of the trees. A witness reported that the pilot performed the upper pass, then returned for the middle pass when the helicopter began to rotate counterclockwise around the main motor mast. It completed one full rotation, and during the second rotation, the helicopter impacted trees and then the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its right side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom.

The helicopter’s main rotor was equipped with five blades that turned counterclockwise when viewed from above. The most recent 100-hr and 300-hr airframe inspections were performed on February 18, 2019, at an aircraft total time of 13,637.0 hours (2,349.0 hours Hobbs time). The Hobbs meter indicated 2,382.3 hours at the accident site.

A review of maintenance records revealed that, before its installation on the accident helicopter, the overrunning clutch subassembly had been repaired, which included the installation of a new outer race. The overrunning clutch subassembly was installed onto the accident helicopter at the most recent inspection.

According to the maintenance logbooks, the engine mounts were inspected during every 100-hr inspection per manufacturer guidance. The entries for six previous 100-hr inspections (July 2018 through February 2019) contained no entries related to any defects or discrepancies with the engine mounts. When the engine mounts were installed on the helicopter could not be determined.

Chapter 5 of MD Helicopters Maintenance Manual No. CSP-HMI-2 contained instructions for periodic, special, and conditional inspections. The engine was not required to be removed to facilitate the periodic inspection. Conditional inspections of the engine mounts were performed based on certain events, such as a hard landing or a main rotor sudden stoppage. The special inspections do not contain criteria specifically for inspecting the engine mounts.

Instructions for the 100-hr or annual inspection included, in part, an inspection of the “engine mounts for cracks and play in mounting hardware at engine and airframe (retorque any loose mounting bolts).”

Section 71-20-00, "Engine Mounts," of the maintenance manual provided instructions for inspecting the engine mounts and fittings. These inspections included a visual inspection for straightness and for cracks or evidence of corrosion on the tubes and welded joints. The instructions stated to magnetic particle inspect suspect engine mount assemblies.

The helicopter impacted terrain at an elevation of 1,250 ft mean sea level and came to rest on its right side on a heading of 037°. Multiple tree strikes were observed, and the helicopter struck the ground about 25 ft from the initial tree strike. All major components of the helicopter remained attached to the airframe.

Flight control continuity was confirmed from the flight controls to the main and tail rotors. The collective control remained attached through wires to the control tube and was found in the maximum (full up) collective input position. Continuity was confirmed from the throttle to the engine through all control linkages and push-pull tubes. The electric N2 trim operated when power was applied. The lateral and longitudinal cyclic trim operated when power was applied. The fuel quantity sending unit was removed and fuel was noted in the fuel tank.

The main rotor transmission fluid level was verified as full using the sight glass. The engine-to-transmission driveshaft was rotated by hand and corresponding movement of the main rotor was observed. The flex frames on the engine-to-transmission driveshaft couplings were intact. Continuity of the main and tail rotor driveshafts was verified. The tail rotor driveshaft flex couplings remained attached at all attach points and the torque stripes on the bolts were unbroken.

All main rotor blades remained intact and exhibited signatures consistent with unpowered impact damage. The tail rotor transmission assembly remained attached to the tailboom. Chordwise scratching was noted on both tail rotor blades. The leading edge of one blade was impact damaged. The tail rotor driveshaft remained attached to the main transmission and was bent. The tail rotor control push-pull tube also remained attached and was bent. The tailboom was fractured about 4 ft aft of the fuselage. The tail rotor driveshaft displayed a small amount of rotational scoring. The tail rotor pitch control links remained attached. Oil was noted in the tail rotor gear box.

An inspection panel was removed in the cabin area of the fuselage to access the forward section of the engine. The compressor impeller assembly did not rotate. The N1 turbine did not rotate. The drive gear connected to the overrunning clutch could be rotated by hand. The starter generator was removed and would rotate by hand. The combustion can was removed. The first stage nozzle exhibited no sign of thermal distress, cracks, missing material, or airfoil deterioration on the nozzle guide vanes.

The upper and lower chip detectors exhibited no debris. The compressor module could be rotated by hand. The governor drive shaft rotated freely and exhibited no excessive play. The fuel control was removed and the fuel control drive rotated freely. The power turbine to pinion gear (N2) rotated freely when turned by hand. Continuity of the gas producer turbine-to-compressor (N1) drive train was confirmed when rotated through the N1 tachometer generator drive pad. There were no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The overrunning clutch housing was fractured at its attachment flange; the flange remained attached to the engine gearbox. Residual oil was found when the clutch was removed from the housing. Rotational scoring was noted on the upper bearing support of the clutch. The upper bearing exhibited grease. The overrunning clutch operated as designed when the clutch was rotated in reverse. The overrunning clutch outer race exhibited a torsional fracture on the shaft adjacent to the splines. The C-clip exhibited tension when removed.

Examination of the overrunning clutch revealed that the attachment flange at the aft end of the housing was fractured, and the outer race at the aft end of the clutch subassembly was also fractured. The outer race fracture comprised a circumferential portion, a spiral portion that extended more than 360° around the circumference, and a longitudinal portion that linked between the spiral faces with features consistent with fatigue cracking. The cracks were perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The subassembly fracture surfaces revealed evidence of torsional overload.

The lower arm of the left upper engine mount was fractured under tensile overload and the upper arm of the right upper engine mount was bent to the right and cracked with a compression overload failure. Neither crack in the upper left or right engine mount exhibited corrosion. Cracks were also observed on the forward surface of the center (lower) engine mount that were partially obscured by paint. The paint was removed and orange oxidation was noted on most of the crack surface. The extent of the cracking was about 25% of the center engine mount’s circumference and oriented in the vertical direction. The surface was cleaned and examination revealed that the center engine mount fracture was consistent with overload, including the areas of weld heat affected zones. There was no evidence of crack propagation on the center engine mount fracture.

The engine-to-transmission driveshaft was examined at the manufacturer's facility and displayed no anomalies.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta, Georgia, performed the autopsy on the pilot. The autopsy report indicated the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.

Toxicology testing of the pilot was performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory. Diphenhytramine (54 mg/dl, mg/hg) was detected in the blood; it was also detected in liver. Atropine was detected in the blood and liver; atorvastatin was detected in liver but not blood; pioglitazone was detected in liver, but not blood; and midazolam was detected in liver, and blood; no ethanol was detected in blood.

The medications detected were consistent with treatment of cholesterol and allergies and with postaccident emergency care.

The helicopter pilot reported that, after a high reconnaissance the helicopter was descended to about 30 ft above the power lines for the powerline inspection, while flying about 30-35 knots. While patrolling, they climbed over an identified crossing line, and then descended back down. During the decent , the passenger spotted a previously unseen power line in their flight path so the pilot "pulled hard aft cyclic with right pedal" but the main rotor blades struck the power line. The helicopter acquired a vibration in the main rotor system, but pilot was able to land without further incident.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

On July 29, 2014, at 1651 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N89ZC, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power while trimming trees in West Liberty, Ohio. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to DAH Aircraft LLC and operated by Rotor Blade LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 external load flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a nearby field at 1501.

The pilot was using a 10-bladed aerial saw to trim trees along a railroad track when the accident occurred. A witness reported the engine sounded like it lost power and the tail of the helicopter oscillated to the left as the helicopter began losing altitude. The helicopter then rolled to the left and descended to impact with the trees and terrain.

A postaccident examination of the helicopter was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The inspector reported the tail boom separated from the helicopter during the impact. The tail rotor drive shaft did not show evidence of torsional twisting. The main and tail rotor blades contained little damage. He reported there was no evidence of fuel spill at the accident site. The helicopter's fuel system was intact and there was no fuel present in the fuel tank or in the fuel line at the engine. The inspector applied electrical power to the helicopter and the fuel quantity indicator showed the tank was empty.

The helicopter was topped off with fuel prior to the flight. According to the helicopter operator, the helicopter holds 62.4 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported the helicopter consumes about 30 gallons per hour. The operator stated the spot tracker information showed the helicopter flew 1 hour and 50 minutes from the last fueling to the time of the accident and they drained about one quart of fuel from the helicopter after the accident.

The operator stated the pilots and ground crew time the flights for fuel consumption. The ground crew gave the pilot a one hour time check followed by additional 15 minute time checks prior to the accident.

On November 6, 2009, about 1130 eastern standard time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N89ZC, registered to Extreme Helicopters Inc, crashed into a field while conducting an autorotation following a loss of engine power, in Baxley, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was originating from a private residence in Baxley, Georgia.

According to the pilot, the helicopter lost power less than a minute after takeoff. The helicopter rolled over onto its left side during the subsequent autorotation, substantially damaging the main rotor blades and airframe. The pilot further stated that the cause of the loss of engine power was that the “main fuel valve was pulled causing fuel starvation to the engine."

Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the helicopter on its left side, with damage to the main rotor blades and tail rotor.