20070303003439A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 269C · Columbus, PA · March 3, 2007

Date: March 3, 2007 · 16:00 local
Place: Columbus, PA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N515JM
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC07CA070
Reported as: Hughes 269C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,800 total353 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

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 March 3, 2007, a Schweizer-269-C, U.S. Registration N515JM, made a precautionary landing in a field due to weather conditions (snow and visibility). When the pilot was approaching the ground, a white-out of snow from the helicopter's rotor-wash caused the pilot to lose situational awareness. The helicopter experienced a dynamic roll-over onto its right side. The pilot was the sole occupant and uninjured.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MARCH 3, 2007, A SCHWEIZER-269-C, U.S. REGISTRATION N515JM, MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS (SNOW AND VISIBILITY). WHEN THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING THE GROUND, A WHITE-OUT OF SNOW FROM THE HELICOPTER'S ROTOR-WASH CAUSED THE PILOT TO LOSE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A DYNAMIC ROLL-OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT AND UNINJURED.

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 NYC07CA070Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportColumbus, PAThe pilot's improper decision to continue the landing attempt in whiteout conditions, which resulted in his disorientation, and the helicopter's subsequent dynamic rollover. Factors included the whiteout conditions, and the pilot's inadequate weather…Mar 3, 2007 · Substantial damage