# NTSB ATL04LA011: Hughes 269A, N911HC, Huntsville, AL, October 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 2003, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Huntsville, AL - Coordinates: 34.640277, -86.639442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6403&lon=-86.6394&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 October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58111/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a collision with a tree and subsequent uncontrolled collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - out of ground effect - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - Loss of control - in flight, hover - out of ground effect - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to photograph a nearby golf course. As the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to facilitate the purpose of the flight, the tail rotor assembly collided with trees, and the helicopter subsequently collided with the ground. The passenger stated that the helicopter was traveling in a backward motion at approximately 60 feet above the ground. Examination of the downed helicopter revealed that wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. The on site examination revealed the helicopter tail rotor struck a tree approximately 60 feet above the ground. The center of impact was nearly vertical in direction, 46 feet from the tree that was struck. The ground scar of the helicopter was consistent with very little or no lateral movement. The downed helicopter came to rest on its left side on a 010-degree magnetic heading approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Examination of the wreckage at the wreckage site revealed the tail boom was separated. The tail rotor blade was separated from the tail boom. The pilot did not report any problems with the helicopter prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2003, at 0940 central daylight time, a Hughes 269A, N911HC, registered to and operated by Fredrick's Aviation Inc., collided with trees while hovering over a golf course in Huntsville, Alabama. The flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot was not injured, but his passenger received serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Moontown Airport, Huntsville, Alabama, at 0910 central daylight time. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to photograph a nearby golf course. After arriving at the destination, the pilot attempted to position the helicopter so the passenger could photograph a portion of the golf course. The passenger stated the helicopter was traveling in a backward motion approximately 60 feet above the ground. According to the pilot, he was flying above the tree line at approximately 35 knots when he experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The pilot attempted to increase his forward airspeed, and the helicopter started to rotate. The pilot stated he performed autorotation procedures. However, the tail rotor assembly collided with trees, and the helicopter subsequently collided with the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its side at the 14 tee of the golf course. According to the Hughes 269A pilot operating handbook the height velocity curve caution pilots to "avoid operation in shaded area". The height and airspeed of the flight, places the helicopter within the mentioned shaded caution range. According to the 0854, aviation surface weather observation from Huntsville International Airport Carl T Jones Field, Huntsville, Georgia recorded winds 130 degrees at 6 knots, 10 statute miles of visibility. There were scattered clouds at 9,500 and no precipitation. Temperature was reported at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.14. The Huntsville International Airport is located 10 nautical miles from the accident site. Examination of the downed helicopter revealed that wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. The on site examination revealed the helicopter tail rotor struck a tree approximately 60 feet above the ground. The center of impact was nearly vertical in direction, 46 feet from the tree that was struck. The ground scar of the helicopter was consistent with very little or no lateral movement. The downed helicopter came to rest on its left side on a 010-degree magnetic heading approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of downtown Huntsville, Alabama. Examination of the wreckage at the wreckage site revealed the tail boom was separated. The tail rotor blade was separated from the tail boom. The main rotor blades were bent, and the glass canopy was broken. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot was issued a second-class medical certificate on May 16, 2002, with the restriction "must wear corrective lenes". The pilot was also issued a commercial pilot certificate on February 1, 2001, as a rotorcraft-helicopter pilot, with private pilot privileges in single engine land airplanes. The pilot also held a certified flight instructor's rating in rotorcraft -helicopter, issued July 10, 2003. According to CFR 14 Part 61.23 "A second-class medical certificate expires at the end of the last day of the 12 month after the month of the date of the examination shown on the certificate for operations requiring a commercial pilot certificate". The pilot and passenger had an oral agreement for the use of a helicopter for compensation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N911HC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911HC-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 67-15437 (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: 67-280781 - Airframe hours: 12393 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fredricks Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2003, 55 hours before - Departed: 3M5, Moontown, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review September 10, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 250 in this make and model, 432 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: HSV ## 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 20031007025059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031007025059A), Oct 7, 2003: Hughes 269A, Ledges, AL, Destroyed. (-23) The helicopter tail rotor struck a tree approximately 60 feet above the ground while the aircraft was hovering in a backwards direction. The center of… 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.