# Accident 20060802017559A: Hughes 500N, Louisville, KY, August 2, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2006, 13:15 local time
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.1397° N, 85.5392° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1397&lon=-85.5392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N520AP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N520AP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: MD Helicopters 500N (registry code 3030001, https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-500n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500N
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,030 total, 740 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC06TA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06TA190) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060802017559A

## Narrative

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

(-23) HELICOPTER CRASHED RESULTING IN ONE PILOT SUSTAINING FRACTURED VERTEBRA AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT'S STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION WAS BEING GIVEN, THAT THE STUDENT HAD COMPLETED A STEEP APPROACH, AND WHILE HOVERING, THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN UNCOMMANDED DROP TO THE GROUND FROM APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER SYSTEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOTS NOR WERE ANY FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## 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 NYC06TA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06TA190), Aug 2, 2006: MD Helicopter 500N (N520AP), Louisville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover.

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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