ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 175266
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| Date: | Thursday 19 February 2004 |
| Time: | 02:45 |
| Type: | Schweizer 269D |
| Owner/operator: | San Antonio Police |
| Registration: | N255TP |
| MSN: | 0021 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1998 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3621 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | San Antonio, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | San Antonio-Stinson Municipal Airport, TX (SSF/KSSF) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The 493-hour pilot reported that approximately 5 minutes after departure, he noticed a "slight change in engine noise." Subsequently, he heard a "bang," followed by an aural engine warning horn, and a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated an autorotation, and during the autorotation, the helicopter impacted power lines, landed hard on a parking lot surface and came to rest upright. A witness located adjacent to the helicopter's flight path reported hearing a "loud backfire" followed by subsequent white smoke coming from the helicopter. Review of the aircraft maintenance records revealed the engine was overhauled approximately 295 hours prior to the accident. During the engine overhaul, the impeller travel (bump clearance) was measured to be approximately .010 inches. During the engine teardown examination, prior to the removal of the compressor rotor from the rear support, the impeller travel (bump clearance) was measured to be approximately 0.021 inches. The third, fifth, and sixth stage vane assemblies were bent in the direction of rotation. Corresponding damage was observed on the trailing edges of the blades on the adjacent forward compressor rotors. Fretting and score marks noted on the compressor assembly components were consistent with axial movement at the compressor assembly resulting in contact between the compressor blades and vanes, and a subsequent compressor stall and loss of engine power.
Probable Cause: The loss of engine power due to the axial movement of the compressor rotor blades contacting the compressor vanes resulting in a subsequent compressor stall. A contributing factor was the improper assembly of the compressor section during the engine overhaul by unknown maintenance personnel.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20040219X00205&key=1
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Apr-2015 22:00 | Noro | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:30 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Dec-2017 17:42 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Cn, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 31-May-2023 05:11 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Cn, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]] |
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