# Accident 20000228004549A: Hughes TH55, Odessa, FL, February 28, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2000, 10:30 local time
- Place: Odessa, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.1297° N, 82.5893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1297&lon=-82.5893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9518K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9518K-2013-03-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55 (registry code 4471002, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH55
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,592 total, 153 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000228004549A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 29, 2000, AT 1030 HRS. (EST), A HUGHES 269 (TR55) HELICOPTER OWNED BY PASCO COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL AND OPERATED BY^PRIVACY DATA O^CRASHED HELICOPTER INTO THE GROUND DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION ON AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. VFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE PIC HOLDS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE (ASEL/ WITH INSTRUMENT AND HELICOPTER RATINGS.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PASCO COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL, ODESSA, FLORIDA AT 0945 HRS. THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT INDUCED BY THE PILOT MISMANAGING THE CONTROLS.                                                  (.4)ON FEBRUARY 28, 2000, AT ABOUT 1030 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A HUGHES TH-55, N9518K, REGISTERED TO PASCO COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR PART 91 TRAINING FLIGHT CRASHED DURING A TRAINING AUTOROTATION. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM A PRIVATE STATE HELIPORT ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS CONDUCTING AN AUTOROTATION WITH TUR N. HE STARTED HIS DECELERATION BETWEEN 75 TO 100 FEET. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN, HE APPLIED AFT CYCLIC AND THE HELICOPTER ENTERED INTO A VERTICAL RATE OF DESCENT. COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS INCREASED, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE SEPARATING THE TAIL BOOM, AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

## 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 MIA00LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA097), Feb 28, 2000: Hughes TH-55 (N9518K), Odessa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of flight controls (cyclic and col lective) during a autorotation resulting in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.

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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