20031018027859A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Hughes 269C · Fenton, MI · October 18, 2003

Date: October 18, 2003 · 11:35 local
Place: Fenton, MI
Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N456JP
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04LA015
Reported as: Hughes 269C
Reported engine: Lycoming HIO360D1A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 301 total257 in this make and model39 in the last 90 days

N456JPRegistration cancelled Mar 5, 2004 · Schweizer 269CS/N S1564 · 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) Aircraft had been performing steep bank turns over lake copneconic, near Fenton, MI. Helicopter had leveled out, crossing the lake at very low altitude. Mr. Brasher had asked his passenger if he had ever "skiied" in an helicopter. His passenger stated that he had not, and did not want to. It appears that Mr. Brasher attempted the maneuver anyway. At this time, it is believed to have caught a skid in the water. The aircraft contacted the water nose first. The helicopter immediately began to sink. Both occupants were able to free themselves from the aircraft and reach the surface. The passenger was able to reach shore, but the pilot did not. The passenger received serious injuries to his head and neck, the pilot was fatally injured.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PERFORMING STEEP BANK TURNS OVER LAKE COPNECONIC, NEAR FENTON, MI. HELICOPTER HAD LEVELED OUT, CROSSING THE LAKE AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE. MR. BRASHER HAD ASKED HIS PASSENGER IF HE HAD EVER "SKIIED" IN AN HELICOPTER. HIS PASSENGER STATED THAT HE HAD NOT, AND DID NOT WANT TO. IT APPEARS THAT MR. BRASHER ATTEMPTED THE MANEUVER ANYWAY. AT THIS TIME, IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CAUGHT A SKID IN THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE WATER NOSE FIRST. THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SINK. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO FREE THEMSELVES FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND REACH THE SURFACE. THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO REACH SHORE, BUT THE PILOT DID NOT. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND NECK, THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

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 CHI04LA015Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportFenton, MIThe intentional low altitude flight maneuvering and the ostentatious display by the pilot. The water was a factor to the accident.Oct 18, 2003 · Substantial damage