Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zephyrhills, Florida 33599
Tuesady, December 9, 1986 15:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A WITNESS STATED THAT SHE HEARD THE ENG ON THE HELICOPTER QUIT. SHE LOOKED OUT HER WINDOW AND WATCHED THE HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND, BOUNCE, HIT AGAIN, FLIP OVER AND THE TAIL BROKE OFF. THE HELICOPTER THEN BURST INTO FLAMES AND EXPLODED.EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE PC AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN AT THE FORWARD INLET SIDE OF THE FILTER BODY WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF PC AIR PRESSURE TO THE FUEL CONTROL.THIS CAUSED THE ENG POWER TO REDUCE TO FLIGHT IDLE. THE PC FILTER HOUSING BROKE DUE TO AN IMPROPER MODIFICATION TO THE FILTER BODY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/9/1986
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ZEPHYRHILLS
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33599
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 12
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 1451 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID PIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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) 2257
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 9 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32875
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8390F
NTSB Number MIA87FA046
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369HS
Aircraft Series Identifier 369HS
Aircraft Serial Number 860855S
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 4 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 645
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANCIS M. MCGAHEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2580 RIVER PL.
Aircraft Owner City ORANGE PARK
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32073
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name F. M.MC GAHEE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2580 RIVER PLACE
Operator City ORANGE PARK
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32073
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City TAMPA
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City JACKSONVILLE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --