# Accident 20090928049869A: Hughes 369A (OH-6A, Wasilla, AK, September 28, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 28, 2009, 17:00 local time
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Airport: Wolf Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6333° N, 149.2886° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6333&lon=-149.2886&mi=10
- Aircraft: N501SU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501SU-2020-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 369A (OH-6A) (registry code 4470506, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369a-oh-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C10D (registry code 03035, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c10d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369A (OH-6A
- Reported engine: ROLLS ROYCE (ALLISON) 250
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total, 80 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC09LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090928049869A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT AND OWNER OF THE HELICOPTER TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT DURING CLIMB FROM A HOVER THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET AGL AND 30 KNOTS OF FORWARD AIRSPEED.  HE SAID THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER CAUSED THE ROTOR RPM TO DECLINE AND DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO ACCOMPLISH A LOW ROTOR RPM AUTOROTATION THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD.  THE HARD LANDING CAUSED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVER IT FROM THE FUSELAGE.  THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER OR PILOT.  THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THE ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 100 HOURS OF OPERATION HOURS REMAINING UNTIL IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REMOVED FOR OVERHAUL.  A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS BY THE FAA INSPECTOR CONFIRMED THE PILOT/OWNER'S STATEMENT.  THE RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS IN REGULATORY COMPLIANCE OF REQUIRED INSPECTIONS INCLUDING AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES.  THE RECORDS ALSO SHOWED THE N2 GOVERNOR WAS REPLACED ON JULY 15, 2009 AND 2.3 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC09LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA110), Sep 29, 2009: Hughes 369A (OH-6A) (N501SU), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power after take off for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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