BALDWIN, WI, USA
N9427F
HUGHES 269B
AFTER PICKING UP HIS PASSENGER AT WILLIAMS PIPELINE, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, THE PLT FLEW EASTWARD ALONG INTERSTATE 90 ENROUTE TO A PIPELINE NEAR WAUSAU, WISCONSIN. WHILE FLYING AT APPROXIMATELLY 400 FEET, THE PLT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING OR KNOCKING NOISE AND THAT THERE WAS AN ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT THEN DROPPED THE COLLECTIVE AND TURNED APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES TO THE SANDY, UPWARD SLOPING GROUND. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED LOW AND THE TAILBOOM RAISED. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES THEN STRUCK THE TAILBOOM. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR PISTON ROD PROTRUDED THROUGH THE ENGINE CASE, WHICH WAS CRACKED FROM THE HOLE TO THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER BASE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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