Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Daytona Beach, Florida 32014
Saturday, November 12, 1988 16:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLT, THE MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S). GRASS WAS IGNITED BY EXHAUST GASSES AFTER TOUCHDOWN, RESULTING IN FIRE, DESTROYING THE HELICOPTER. EXAMINATION OF ENG COMPARTMENT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE ASSY. THE PLT STATED HE BELIEVES THE LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO BELT OR IDLER PULLEY CABLE STRETCH. THE TOTAL NO. OF TRANSMISSION DRIVE BELTS OPERATING WHEN THE LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR DRIVE OCCURRED COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT A 2 BELTS WILL DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE PLT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE STRETCHING OF THE IDLER PULLEY CABLE OR THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE BELTS. THE TENSION OF THE IDLER PULLEY CABLE WAS CHECKED APRX 12 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND SCHEDULED TO BE RECHECKED AFTER 13 HRS OF OPERATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 11/12/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DAYTONA BEACH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32014
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 9
Weather Observation Facility ID DAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 30000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5086
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38710
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37632
NTSB Number MIA89IA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269A
Aircraft Series Identifier 269A
Aircraft Serial Number 46-0499
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 29 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 4206
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARK W. PATTERSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1107 DOWNEY AVE.
Aircraft Owner City SOUTH DAYTONA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32019
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 44J
Departure City DAYTONA BEACH
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --