Accident · 1993-12-22

NTSB case LAX94LA076 · HUGHES 369D · Part 133

What the record says

Event date: 1993-12-22
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: No injuries
Aircraft: HUGHES 369D (N115HD)
Operating rule: Part 133
Operator: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS — On-demand air taxi (135) Operator Does Business As: INTER ISLAND HELICOPTERS

Probable cause

AN INADEQUATE ENGINE COMPRESSOR CLEANING PROCEDURE SPECIFIED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE LETTER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CONTAMINATION, BLOCKAGE, AND COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL NOZZLE INLET SCREEN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF A SPECIFIED PERIODIC INSPECTION REQUIREMENT FOR THE NOZZLE SCREEN AND THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Source: NTSB case LAX94LA076

Flight crew

Flight-crew details for this event aren't in the NTSB database extract we hold (its coverage starts with 2008 events) — a gap in our data, not an absence of crew.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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