20030628013229A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 269C · Bountiful, UT · June 28, 2003

Date: June 28, 2003 · 17:48 local
Place: Bountiful, UT
Airport: Salt Lake Skypark Airport
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3623U
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN03LA115
Reported as: Hughes 269C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,500 total280 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days

N3623URegistration cancelled Oct 9, 2012 · Schweizer 269CS/N S1568 · Built 1991 Airframe modelSchweizer 269C Engine modelLycoming HIO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On 06/28/03, at 1748 MDT, N3623U, a Schweizer 269C helicopter piloted by paul michael taylor, sustained substantial damage while being repositioned at the Bountiful Skypark airport. Witnesses reported that the helicopter was facing slightly west of true north as it lifted off and was approximately 3 to 5 feet off the ground when the nose swung towards the northeast and traveled about 15 feet backwards. The helicopter then descended onto the tarmac. The tail rotor hit the ground first, then the body tipped to the left as it hit the ground, finally causing the main rotor to impact. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The witnesses also reported that other aircraft performing flour bag drops on the runway were experiencing wind turbulence at the time of the accident. (Slc METAR 35011G16KT.) No injuries were sustained. There was collateral damage from flying debris to N501D, N66676, and hanger E-4.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 06/28/03, AT 1748 MDT, N3623U, A SCHWEIZER 269C HELICOPTER PILOTED BY PAUL MICHAEL TAYLOR, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE BEING REPOSITIONED AT THE BOUNTIFUL SKYPARK AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS FACING SLIGHTLY WEST OF TRUE NORTH AS IT LIFTED OFF AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 5 FEET OFF THE GROUND WHEN THE NOSE SWUNG TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AND TRAVELED ABOUT 15 FEET BACKWARDS. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED ONTO THE TARMAC. THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND FIRST, THEN THE BODY TIPPED TO THE LEFT AS IT HIT THE GROUND, FINALLY CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE WITNESSES ALSO REPORTED THAT OTHER AIRCRAFT PERFORMING FLOUR BAG DROPS ON THE RUNWAY WERE EXPERIENCING WIND TURBULENCE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (SLC METAR 35011G16KT.) NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM FLYING DEBRIS TO N501D, N66676, AND HANGER E-4.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN03LA115Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBountiful, UTthe pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the aerial taxi. Factors contributing to the accident were the oscillating cyclic, the pilot's diverted attention, and the gusting crosswind.Jun 28, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3623U · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19930316006829ITo Vertical (Helicopter Only) · Hesperia, CATail rotor failure on takeoff. Emergency landing in field. Imput nut on tail rotor drive shaft came loose.Mar 16, 1993 · Minor damage