# Accident 19990601047029A: Hughes 269A, Parkman, WY, June 1, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 1, 1999, 11:00 local time
- Place: Parkman, WY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.9602° N, 107.3107° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9602&lon=-107.3107&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7052L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7052L-2015-05-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,600 total, 200 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN99LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990601047029A

## Narrative

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

(.4)AN HOUR AFTER LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD (6,200 FEET MSL) NEAR PARKMAN, WYOMING, IN THE BIGHORN NATIONAL FOREST, THE PILOT PERFORMED A PRACTICE TAKEOFF WITHOUT HIS PASSENGER TO TEST THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE. THE HELICOPTER HOVERED NORMALLY AFTER EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT WAS ACHIEVED, AND HE CLIMBED OUT AT 40 KNOTS.  SHORTLY AFTER CLEARING A 75-FOOT RIDGE 100 TO 150 YARDS FROM THE TAKEOFF FIELD JUST AFTER COMING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT AND SUBSEQUENTLY BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE.  THE POWER REQUIRED FOR THE HELICOPTER TO CLIMB WAS GREATER THAN THE POWER AVAILABLE.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND THROUGH 60 TO 80 FEET OF TREES, AND CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ON IMPACT.  DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7,578 FEET. ACCORDING TO CALCULATED WEIGHT AND PERFORMANCE DATA, THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,232 LBS.  AT AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 35 KNOTS, THE MAXIMUM OBSTACLE CLEARANCE HEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 75 FEET, WITH A MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF 800 FEET.                        (-23)PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HELICOPTER DURING TAKEOFF AND CLIMB IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS.

## 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 DEN99LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA092), Jun 1, 1999: Hughes 269A (N7052L), Parkman, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning by exceeding the helicopter's performance climb capability. Factors were the downdraft encountered during initial climb following takeoff, and the high…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.