# Accident 20080418831759A: Hughes TH55, Logan, UT, April 18, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2008, 16:00 local time
- Place: Logan, UT
- Airport: Logan-Cache
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7911° N, 111.8517° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7911&lon=-111.8517&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6358Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6358Z-2013-09-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55 (registry code 4471002, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH55
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08TA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08TA116) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080418831759A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRMAN WAS DEMONSTRATING A LIFT INTO HOVER NEXT TO THE USU HANGAR (FL13). THE AIRMAN LIFTED THE HELICOPTER 6 TO 8 INCHES OFF THE GROUND, AND WAS ABOUT TO SET IT DOWN, BUT MISTAKENLY ROLLED ONTO THE THROTTLE INSTEAD OF ROLLING OFF OF IT. THE CRAFT LIFTED 10 FT OR HIGHER. THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN APPARENTLY CAUGHT BY A GUST OF WIND. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO DESCEND BUT STILL MAINTAINED FORWARD MOMENTUM. UPON DESCENDING WIND LIFT WAS LOST AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DESCEND TOO FAST. THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED TO THROTTLE UP AGAIN BUT AT THIS POINT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TRAVELING NORTH-WESTWARD FOR APPROXIMATELY 100FT FROM THE INITIAL LIFTOFF POINT, COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE JUST PAST THE TAXIWAY WEST OF THE HANGAR IN LOOSE DIRT.

## 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 LAX08TA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08TA116), Apr 18, 2008: Hughes TH-55 (N6358Z), Logan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering. Contributing to the accident were the wind gusts and the pilot's lack of…

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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