Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tamunings, Guam 96911
Wednesday, April 29, 1987 10:39 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A HUGHES 369D, OPERATED OFF OF A FISHING VESSEL, WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, NR GUAM. THE ACCIDENT WAS WITNESSED BY THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN. HIS STATEMENT INDICATED ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED IN FLT WHILE THE HELO WAS ORBITING THE SHIP AT APRX 200 FT MSL. DURING AN EARLIER FLT A VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS EXPERIENCED. THE DISCREPANCY WAS REFERRED TO THE A&P MECHANIC ON THE BOAT, WHO WORKED ON THE HELO FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR WITH THE PLT. THE HELO WAS THEN TEST FLOWN. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE HUGHES 369D ARE ATTACHED TO THE MAIN ROTOR HUB WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETENTION STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER OUTLINES A PROCEDURE DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT MAIN ROTOR HUB COMPONENT CORROSION ON HELICOPTERS OPERATED IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS. RECORDS MAINTAINED AT THE HELO MAINTENANCE BASED REVEALED THAT SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROCEDURE ON BOARD THE SHIP. THE ACFT WAS NOT RECOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/29/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1039
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City TAMUNINGS
Event State GUAM
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96911
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 4
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 Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2538
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37199
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10995
NTSB Number LAX87LA199
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 721D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 5307
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name APOLLO ENTERPRISES CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 582 TUNA STREET
Aircraft Owner City TERMINAL ISLAND
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90731
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ADRIATIC SEA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City GRAND CAYMAN IS
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City TAMUNINGS
Departure State OF
Departure Country
Departure Time 1039
Departure Time Zone
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 Descent
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 --