# Accident 20240601009079A: Hughes TH-55, Danbury, NH, June 1, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 1, 2024, 12:48 local time
- Place: Danbury, NH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5317° N, 71.9252° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5317&lon=-71.9252&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8045H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8045H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55 (registry code 4471002, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH-55
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 175 total, 20 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240601009079A

## Narrative

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

ON 06/01/2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 1248 LOCAL A TH55 HELICOPTER DEPARTED KLCI AIRPORT ENROUTE TO A LOCAL RESIDENCE IN DANBURY NH ON A SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT.  THE PILOT HELD A FIXED WING SINGLE ENGINE LAND RATING AND WAS APPROPRIATELY ENDORSED TO PERFORM SOLO FLIGHTS IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER AS A STUDENT PILOT AND WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT. DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND PHASE OF THE FLIGHT AT THE LOCAL RESIDENCE IN DANBURY NH THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WIND CONDITIONS WHICH CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO DEPART CONTROLLED FLIGHT FOLLOWED BY CRASHING INTO TREES AND VEGETATION NEAR THE CONFINED LANDING AREA. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED IN A POST-CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERE INJURIES.  THE PILOT IS CURRENTLY RECOVERING.

## 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 ERA24LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA242), Jun 1, 2024: Hughes 269A (N8045H), Danbury, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the prevailing wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during landing.

## Other reports on N8045H (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20190313001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190313001269A), Mar 13, 2019: Hughes TH-55 (N8045H), Keene, NH, Substantial damage. Pilot in cruise flight at 500 feet AGL (helicopter)had a bird strike about two miles north of the Keene (een) dillant-hopkins airport in NH. A 2' by 2'…
- [Accident 19980511037189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980511037189A), May 11, 1998: Hughes TH55 (N8045H), Alexandria Bay, NY, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot was receiving instruction from a flight instructor for the purpose of practicing touchdown autorotations towards attaining his instructor…

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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