# NTSB ANC92LA144: Hughes 269A, N5006M, Nome, AK, August 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1992, 16:00 local (Aug 24, 1992, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Nome, AK
- Coordinates: 64.709327, -164.620773 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7093&lon=-164.6208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5790/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA144

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, hover
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN APPROX 5-FT HOVER, THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE DUAL CYCLIC CONTROL STICK FORWARD, AND BEFORE HE COULD TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE 15-20 DEG SLOPE. THE PILOT ABRUPTLY MOVED HIS CYCLIC CONTROL STICK AFT, THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AND CUT OFF THE TAILBOOM. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PASSENGER TO VIDEOTAPE WILDLIFE THROUGH THE LEFT DOOR, WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE BUT HE DID NOT THINK HE HAD PUSHED THE CONTROL STICK. HE THOUGHT THE PILOT HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THE WILDLIFE AND INADVERTENTLY HIT THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5006M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5006M-2018-03-26), registration cancelled 2018-03-26, S/N 65-18259 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Registry model: [Hughes TH-55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55a) (registry code 4471004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 65-18259
- Airframe hours: 4212
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Smith, Timothy E.
- Registered owner: Smith, Timothy E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 1991, 133 hours before
- Departed: OME, NOME, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,611 total, 134 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920823032689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920823032689A), Aug 23, 1992: Hughes 269A, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. During photo flight at 5 foot AGL passenger leaned forward on cyclic. Pilot resersed cyclic abruptly. Tail rotor hit

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.

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