Hughes TH-55A accident near Savannah, Georgia, July 30, 1994
On July 30, 1994 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Hughes TH-55A (helicopter), registered N789MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1994 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes TH-55A TH55-A · all TH-55As on the register
- Registration
- N789MC · no longer on the register · serial 67-6789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED DISPENSING A LOAD OF CHEMICAL USED TO CONTROL MOSQUITO'S. WHILE ON A REPOSITION FLIGHT TO DISPENSE ANOTHER LOAD OF CHEMICAL, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. AN EMERGENCY AUTOROTATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE TOP OF A TALL OAK TREE. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND MANAGED TO CLIMB DOWN OUT OF THE TREE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF THE ENGINE DRIVE CHAIN, AND THE CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. THE AIRCRAFT SPARK PLUGS WERE BLACK AND SOOTED. THERE WAS FUEL IN THE LINES AND IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL INJECTOR. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL INJECTOR WAS DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT, AND COULD NOT BE TESTED FOR OPERATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,233 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SAV, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.