20190724016109A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 269A · Springfield, TN · July 24, 2019

Date: July 24, 2019 · 17:45 local
Place: Springfield, TN
Phase of flight: Taxi
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N269RR
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA19CA463
Reported as: Hughes 269A
Reported engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,700 total70 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N269RRRegistration cancelled Mar 5, 2022 · Hughes 269AS/N 105-0410 · Built 1964 Airframe modelHughes 269A Engine modelLycoming HIO-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

Helicopter was current for maintenance considerations, annual, 100 hour, completed on day of accident. Owner was giving free rides to family and friends. One of the family friends weighing between 165 and 170 and the pilot weighing 230 were taxiing and loss tail rotor effectiveness. The aircraft had 10 gallons of fuel on board. Winds light and gusty, as pilot taxi to hanger he lost tail rotor effectiveness. No indication of tail rotor failure or shaft failure. Tail rotor gear was intact and functional.

As the FAA filed it

HELICOPTER WAS CURRENT FOR MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS, ANNUAL, 100 HOUR, COMPLETED ON DAY OF ACCIDENT. OWNER WAS GIVING FREE RIDES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. ONE OF THE FAMILY FRIENDS WEIGHING BETWEEN 165 AND 170 AND THE PILOT WEIGHING 230 WERE TAXIING AND LOSS TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. THE AIRCRAFT HAD 10 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. WINDS LIGHT AND GUSTY, AS PILOT TAXI TO HANGER HE LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS. NO INDICATION OF TAIL ROTOR FAILURE OR SHAFT FAILURE. TAIL ROTOR GEAR WAS INTACT AND FUNCTIONAL.

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 GAA19CA463Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSpringfield, TNThe pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control and a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while hover-taxiing and turning toward a taxiway in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.Jul 24, 2019 · Substantial damage