OZARK, AL, USA
N1038Y
HUGHES 269A
THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT A MECHANIC REPAIRED THE LEFT MAGNETO. HE REINSTALLED IT AND TIMED IT WITH THE RIGHT MAGNETO. BOTH MAGNETOS WERE FOUND TO HAVE ADVANCED TIMING. INTERNAL EXAMINATION SHOWED DISCREPANCIES WHICH WOULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BACKUP AUTOROTATION TO A RUN-ON LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE VERTICAL DESCENT WAS STOPPED, HOWEVER, THE FORWARD VELOCITY WAS NOT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE HELO SLID THROUGH A DITCH. COLLISION WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE DITCH RESULTED IN FATAL IMPACT FORCES TRANSMITTED TO THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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