# Accident 19970611013809A: Hughes 269A, Cedar Rapids, IA, June 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 11, 1997, 21:05 local time
- Place: Cedar Rapids, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9702° N, 91.6598° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9702&lon=-91.6598&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1020U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1020U-1999-07-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,247 total, 3,774 in this make and model, 83 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97GA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97GA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970611013809A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER STRUCK A POWERLINE TRANSFORMER, CRASHED ON APPROACH TO HELIPAD, BURNED. (.4)AFTER REFUELING, THE PILOT DEPARTED NORTH FROM A HELIPAD WITH AN OBSERVER ABOARD. THE HELICOPTER OVERFLEW A 50 FOOT BUILDING LOCATED 141 FEET FROM THE PAD. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SHUDDER OVER THE BUILDING AND SHUDDERED AGAIN WHEN IT CROSSED A POWERLINE LOCATED 292 FEET FROM THE PAD. THE OBSERVER REPORTED THE HELICOPTER DID A RIGHT, FLAT TURN. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TOP CROSSBEAM OF A POWERLINE POLE, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A RIGHT SKID DOWN, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. A FIRE ERUPTED. THE PILOT WAS INITIALLY PINNED IN THE WRECKAGE, BUT THE OBSERVER & A TRUCK DRIVER, WHO ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, WERE ABLE TO EXTRICATE THE PILOT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF CONTINUITY IN THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND ENGINE, BUT THE MAGNETOS WERE FIRE DAMAGED & COULD NOT BE TESTED. PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATED THAT POWER REQUIRED FOR A 50' HOVER OUT OF GROUND EFFECT (HOGE) WOULD HAVE BEEN 154 HP; POWER AVAILABLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 173 HP. THE LOCAL AIRPORT'S (AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT) METAR WINDS INDICATED 100 DEGREES AT 7 KNOTS. THE WIN                                                                   D STOCK AT THE HELICOPTER PAD WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. FOR TAKEOFF, THE PILOT ALSO HAD THE OPTION TO DEPART THE HELIPAD ON A HEADING OF 140 DEGREES, OR TO DEPART ON A HEADING OF 320 DEGREES AFTER BACK TAXING ABOUT 150 FEET FOR ADDITIONAL TAKEOFF DISTANCE.  THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS BURNS & HEAD INJURIES.  HE WAS WEARING A POLYESTER BASED POLICE UNIFORM & NO FLIGHT HELMET OR GLOVES.  THE OBSERVER WAS WEARING A NOMEX FLIGHT SUIT AND BOOTS, BUT NO HELMET OR GLOVES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97GA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97GA166), Jun 12, 1997: Hughes 269A-1 (N1020U), Cedar Rapids, IA, destroyed. Probable cause: loss of engine power due to undetermined reason(s). Related factors included the obstructions (building, utility pole, and transmission wires); and the lack of a functional windsock, due to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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