Accident Hughes 500C N9128F, Tuesday 3 April 1990
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Date:Tuesday 3 April 1990
Time:11:35 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic H500 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Hughes 500C
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N9128F
MSN: 720398S
Year of manufacture:1972
Total airframe hrs:1583 hours
Engine model:Allison 250-C20
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Houston, TX -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Executive
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
THE PILOT OF THE TURBINE ENGINE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN HE SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS BURNING OIL. THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT A FEW SECONDS LATER. AN AUTOROTATIONAL DESCENT WAS ACCOMPLISHED TO AN OPEN SCHOOL YARD. DURING THE FLARE/TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT MISJUDGED AND A HARD LANDING OCCURRED RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE TAILBOOM WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK IT.

Probable Cause: THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDERTEMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT MISJUDGING THE FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: FTW90LA090
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 2 years and 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB FTW90LA090

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

28 December 1994 N9128F Hoffman Helicopters 2 Chuuk Island w/o

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
22-Mar-2024 08:27 ASN Update Bot Added

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