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| Date: | Saturday 6 March 2010 |
| Time: | 12:55 |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas MD 500E (369E) |
| Owner/operator: | Aurora Aviation Services Inc |
| Registration: | N26TC |
| MSN: | 0489E |
| Year of manufacture: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 10381 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20 SER |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Near Delta Junction, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Healy, AK |
| Delta Junction, AK (AK09) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight when he heard a “pop” and the engine lost all power. He initiated an autorotation to a clearing, but was unable to reach it and had to land in an area with trees. The helicopter struck treetops during the descent and landed hard, sustaining structural damage. A postaccident inspection, including running the engine in a test cell, disclosed ample uncontaminated fuel, and no evidence of any preimpact mechanical problems with the helicopter’s engine or systems.
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power in flight for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Images:
Photo: FAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 08-Mar-2010 00:15 | RobertMB | Added |
| 08-Mar-2010 01:58 | RobertMB | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, ] |
| 07-Jan-2011 14:58 | harro | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
| 26-Nov-2017 15:55 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
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