Mcdonnell Douglas 369E accident near Lake Elsinore, California, January 30, 1999
On January 30, 1999 at about 11:43 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E (helicopter), registered N992SD, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm and her misjudged flare. Also causal was the failure of the company maintenance personnel to follow the procedures/directives in the engine manufacturer's operation and maintenance manual and their improper inspection of the engine. A factor was the oil starvation of the nos. 6, 7, and 8 bearings that resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1999 · about 11:43 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
- Registration
- N992SD · registry record · serial 510E
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the pilot was maneuvering about 550 to 650 feet agl, the engine chip light illuminated followed by a complete loss of engine power. She performed an autorotation to a large, open field, flared high about 100 feet agl, then collided with the ground. The skids were found spread outward with the belly touching the ground. Two of the main rotor blades displayed evidence of coning. Post-accident investigation revealed that all components of the lubrication system were intact and functional. When the turbine was disassembled, bearings 6 through 8 were found destroyed and displayed evidence of heat distress and oil starvation. The number 5 bearing evidenced heat distress. The nos. 1 through 5 bearings and the gearbox were lubricated, but there was no visual evidence of oil present downstream from the number 5 bearing. There was scoring and debris present in the oil pump scavenge chamber. Over a period of about 72 flight hours and 1 1/2 months, there were 10 reported engine chip light activations. After three chip lights were reported, the turbine, gear box, and compressor assembly were replaced. Engine chip lights were reported six more times. The number 5 bearing and snap ring were found spinning; a new number 5 bearing was installed. The day of the accident, the chip light came on during a maintenance ground run, then came on again before the engine quit. According to the Allison Engine Operation and Maintenance Manual, 'a maximum of four occurrences of magnetic chip warning lights encountered within any 50 hours of engine operation requires removal of the engine for shipment to an Allison Authorized Maintenance Center (AMC).'
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,817 hours in all; 2,900 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 4,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,093 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 28, 1999; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HMT Hemet CA at 11:05 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX99GA083.