# Accident 20030724018179A: Hughes 269C, Olsen Lake, WA, July 24, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 2003, 18:30 local time
- Place: Olsen Lake, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.5761° N, 121.1503° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5761&lon=-121.1503&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500HS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500HS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total, 80 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA156) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030724018179A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE HOVERING OVER LAKE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND PILOT EXPERIENCED GRADUAL RPM DECREASE AND PUT THE ROTORCRAFT DOWN IN THE WATER. OLSEN LAKE IS AT 4264 FEET ELEVATION. TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED WATER RESULTING IN SUDDEN STOPPAGE. ENGINE SUBMERGED WHILE RUNNING. AIRCRAFT WAS PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. PILOT AND PAX HIKED OUT OF AREA LEAVING THE ROTORCRAFT IN THE LAKE FOR RECOVERY. DAY WAS WARM AND SUNNY. NO GUSTING WINDS REPORTED.

## 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 SEA03LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA156), Jul 25, 2003: Hughes 269C (N500HS), Marblemount, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial failure of a magneto during hover taxi over water, leading to a forced landing in shallow water near the shoreline. Factors include the aircraft being over a lake at the time that the…

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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