20050417005859A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 269A · Whitefish, MT · April 17, 2005

Date: April 17, 2005 · 16:00 local
Place: Whitefish, MT
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7054C
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA05CA083
Reported as: Hughes 269A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 49 total15 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N7054CRegistration cancelled Oct 31, 2017 · Hughes 269AS/N 480831 · Built 1967 Airframe modelHughes 269A 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) Student pilot states he decided to practice hovering in a HU-269-A although he has had no time in that model in over one year. Student has 2.4 hours in a "c" model within the previous 3 days. Student lifted off and when he turned downwind to return the aircraft to the shop, he got in loss of tail rotor effectiveness (lte). He tried to set down and rolled onto his right side.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) STUDENT PILOT STATES HE DECIDED TO PRACTICE HOVERING IN A HU-269-A ALTHOUGH HE HAS HAD NO TIME IN THAT MODEL IN OVER ONE YEAR. STUDENT HAS 2.4 HOURS IN A "C" MODEL WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 3 DAYS. STUDENT LIFTED OFF AND WHEN HE TURNED DOWNWIND TO RETURN THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SHOP, HE GOT IN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE). HE TRIED TO SET DOWN AND ROLLED ONTO HIS RIGHT SIDE.

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 SEA05CA083Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWhitefish, MTThe student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. Gusting winds and the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions were contributing factors.Apr 17, 2005 · Substantial damage