# Accident 20190228010609A: Sikorsky HH-60L, Lynchburg, TN, February 28, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2019, 15:00 local time
- Place: Lynchburg, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3458° N, 86.2703° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3458&lon=-86.2703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N260MW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260MW-2022-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky HH-60L (registry code 8142220, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-hh-60l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY HH-60L
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,178 total, 1,724 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19TA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190228010609A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED UNDER VFR FLIGHT RULES FROM ENTERPRISE AL. (KEDN) WITH A FINAL DESTINATION OF TULLAHOMA TN. (KTHA) ON A SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT.  THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED AT SCOTTSBORO AL. (4A6) ABOUT 12:00 PM AND REFUELED PRIOR TO CONTINUING ON TO KTHA.  THEY DEPARTED SCOTTSBORO AL (4A6) FLYING UNDER VFR FLIGHT RULES WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF KTHA.  APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MILES SSE OF KTHA THEY INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A RAINSTORM AND REALIZED THEY WERE NOW BELOW THE VFR WEATHER REQUIREMENTS. WHILE DESCENDING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND OUT OF THE CLOUDS THE AIRCRAFTS LOWER FUSELAGE STRUCK AND IMBEDDED ITSELF ON A TREE.  THE AFT EMPENNAGE BROKE OFF THE MAIN FUSELAGE AND REMAINED ABOUT 35 FEET UP IN THE TREE.  THE MAIN FUSELAGE THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND 30 FEET FROM THE BASE OF THE TREE ON ITS UPPER PORT SIDE.  THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE UNDER POWER DUE TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SHEARING OFF AT THE ROTOR HUB AND THE ROTOR HUB DIGGING A HOLE IN THE GROUND UNTIL THE POWER WAS REMOVED.

## 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 ERA19TA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA110), Feb 28, 2019: Sikorsky HH-60L (N260MW), Tullahoma, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s improper decision to continue the VFR flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees during a subsequent precautionary landing attempt.

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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