Aerospatiale AS-355-F accident near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 15, 1992
On June 15, 1992 at about 5:02 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355-F (helicopter), registered N365DU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF THE OIL SUPPLY LINE FOR THE REAR MAIN BEARING IN ENGINE MODULE THREE WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE BEARING, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LEAK FROM THE ENGINE START DRAIN VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1992 · about 5:02 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355-F · all AS-355-Fs on the register
- Registration
- N365DU · no longer on the register · serial 6102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIR AMBULANCE HELICOPTER WAS ENROUTE TO PICK UP A PATIENT WHEN THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ENGINE FIRE LIGHT ILLUMINATE, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE ENTERING THE CABIN AREA. THE FLIGHT CREW EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT THE NEARBY SIMMONS ARMY AIRFIELD AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL SUPPLY LINE FOR THE BEARING WAS BLOCKED WITH CARBON AND THE REAR BEARING IN THE NUMBER THREE MODULE HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE START FUEL VALVE BEGAN LEAKING FUEL AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF TORQUE ON CONNECTING BOLTS DUE TO ENGINE VIBRATION. THE START FUEL VALVE WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENGINE STARTER/GENERATOR. THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENSIVE FIRE IN THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ORIGINATING IN THE AREA OF THE STARTER/GENERATOR.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,347 hours in all; 73 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 5,693 as pilot in command; 1,908 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,638 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 11, 1992; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,818 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1C (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ND92 Durham NC at 4:33 pm
- Destination: NONE Lumberton NC
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from FAY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.