# NTSB ANC99LA092: Hughes 269A, N8926F, Juneau, AK, July 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1999, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Juneau, AK - Coordinates: 58.579811, -134.769973 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5798&lon=-134.7700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46865 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46865/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm, and an inadequately planned approach. A factor associated with the accident was a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - planned approach - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - Abrupt maneuver, hover - in ground effect - Roll over, hover - in ground effect ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot said that he made a northerly approach to a 3,400 feet msl mountain top heliport. He said that as he approached his intended landing site, he increased collective pitch while slowing his approach airspeed, and the rotor rpm began to decay. The pilot stated that he was forced to hover over, and eventually touchdown on, an area of uneven terrain, about thirty feet short and downhill from his intended landing site. He said, in part: 'I was able to keep the toes of the skids on the uphill slope while trying to get my rpm back up. I rolled the throttle on and lowered the collective as much as I dared.' He said that in an attempt to reposition the helicopter, he increased collective pitch and applied left pedal input. The left skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of clear skies, visibility unlimited, gusty winds from the southeast at 10 to 15 knots, and temperature about 70 degrees F. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 1999, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a skid equipped Hughes 269A helicopter, N8926F, sustained substantial damage during landing atop a 3,400 feet msl mountain, about 12 miles southwest of Juneau, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The helicopter is owned and operated by Color-Vue Inc., Juneau, Alaska. The commercial pilot, and the one passenger aboard, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated about 1245 from Juneau. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 16, the pilot reported that the accident helicopter was being utilized to transport a service technician to a remote radio repeater site. He said that he made a northerly approach to the mountain top. He said that as he approached his intended landing site, he increased collective pitch while slowing his approach airspeed, and the rotor rpm began to decay. The pilot stated that he was forced to hover over, and eventually touchdown on, an area of uneven terrain, about thirty feet short and downhill from his intended landing site. He said, in part: "I was able to keep the toes of the skids on the uphill slope while trying to get my rpm back up. I rolled the throttle on and lowered the collective as much as I dared." He said that in an attempt to reposition the helicopter, he increased collective pitch and applied left pedal input. The left skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of clear skies, visibility unlimited, gusty winds from the southeast at 10 to 15 knots, and temperature about 70 degrees F. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8926F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8926F-2000-02-07), registration cancelled 2000-02-07, S/N 93-0293 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269A - Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 93-0293 - Airframe hours: 4254 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Color-Vue, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1998, 54 hours before - Departed: JNU, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 16,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 167 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19990715009349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990715009349A), Jul 15, 1999: Hughes 269A, Juneau, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) high density altitude problem. Pilot was unable to hold rotor… ## Other investigations on N8926F (5) 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 FTW74FQD01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74FQD01), Jul 12, 1973: Hughes 269A (N8926F), Alpine, TX, destroyed - [NTSB FTW70FQG14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70FQG14), May 21, 1970: Hughes 269A (N8926F), Slaton, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW69F0337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0337), Dec 14, 1968: Hughes 269A (N8926F), Odonnell, TX, destroyed - [NTSB FTW67A0121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67A0121), Jun 19, 1967: Hughes 269A (N8926F), Dumas, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW66A0053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66A0053), Nov 30, 1965: Hughes 269A (N8926F), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.