# Accident 20030402007219A: Hughes 369D, Estes Park, CO, April 2, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2003, 16:20 local time
- Place: Estes Park, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: CAXA
- Location: 40.5244° N, 105.8639° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5244&lon=-105.8639&mi=10
- Aircraft: N56SM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN03LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030402007219A

## Narrative

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

(-23) MR. ROGER WAS PILOT OF N56SM (HU-369-D HELICOPTER) DURING A WILDLIFE CAPTURE PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE. WHILE REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER TO CAPTURE A WILD SHEEP THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A LOW MAIN ROTOR RPM SITUATION. THE PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER THE LOW ROTOR RPM'S AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING. THE HELICOPTER THEN 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 DEN03LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA062), Apr 2, 2003: Hughes 369D (N56SM), Estes Park, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain clearance from terrain. Factors include the high density altitude and the pilot-in-command's improper in-flight planning.

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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