# NTSB ATL04LA034: Hughes 269A, N1015T, Birmingham, AL, November 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 2003, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Birmingham, AL - Coordinates: 33.562778, -86.753334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5628&lon=-86.7533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO-09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58306 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58306/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA034 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's inadequate aircraft control and his improper landing flare resulting in a hard landing and roll over. ## Analysis The student pilot was making an approach for landing. The certified flight instructor noticed the ground was getting closer and the manifold pressure indicated 25 inches. The flight instructor took over the flight controls and increased the throttle, but there appeared to be no response. The flight instructor stated he leveled the helicopter and collided with the ground in a level attitude and the helicopter rolled over on it's left side. Examination of the crash site revealed the helicopter collided with the ground left skid low at a 45-degree angle to the flight path. The left skid collapsed, the cross tube support brackets were broken, and the right skid was intact. ## Factual narrative On November 7, 2003, at 1715 central standard time, a Hughes 269A, N1015T, registered to Hoverwork Helicopters Inc., operated by Liberty Flight Center, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with the ground next to taxiway "B", at the Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama, while on approach to a hover. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor (CFI) and commercial pilot receiving instruction reported no injuries. The flight originated from Birmingham International Airport on November 7, 2003, at 1710. The CFI stated a preflight inspection was conducted and no anomalies were noted. They entered the helicopter, conducted the required checks, started the helicopter, and contacted Birmingham Tower for taxi clearance. They received clearance to hover to the sod area located in the vicinity of taxiway "B". The pilot receiving instruction initiated the hover and hovered to the sod area at 50 feet. The rotor rpm was in the green and the manifold pressure indicated 25 inches. The landing light was not used. The pilot receiving instruction started his descent over the sod area and planned to come to a 3-foot hover. The rotor rpm remained in the green and manifold pressure was decreased to 20 inches. The pilot receiving instruction continued the descent down to about 5 feet. The CFI stated the ground was coming up and the manifold pressure was still at 25 inches. The CFI took over the flight controls with the other pilot, and increased the throttle, but there appeared to be no response. The CFI leveled the helicopter and it collided with the ground in a level attitude. Everything appeared to be ok, but it felt like something gave way or broke on the airframe. The CFI increased collective pitch and was able to hold the helicopter level for about 3 to 4 seconds before it rolled over on its left side. Examination of the helicopter after they exited revealed the cross tubes on the left side had broken. Examination of the crash site revealed the left skid of the helicopter dug into the ground on a 45-degree angle clockwise to the flight path. The left skid collapsed, and the cross tube support brackets were broken. The right skid was intact. The helicopter rolled over on its left side. All three main rotor blades were damaged and tail boom separated. A compression test was performed on all engine cylinders. The compression was 70/80 on all cylinders except for cylinder 4. The compression on the No. 4 cylinder was 21/80. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - aircraft control - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - flare - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,skid assembly - Roll over, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1015T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1015T-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N 66-0584 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269A - Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 66-0584 - Airframe hours: 5994 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A 180 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Liberty Flight Center - Registered owner: Hoverwork Helicopter's Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 29, 2003, 23 hours before - Departed: BHM, Birmingham, AL - Airport: BHM, Birmingham International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2; last flight review September 12, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,325 total, 596 in this make and model, 1,259 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 15, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 715 total, 19 in this make and model, 605 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BHM ## 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 20031107029119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031107029119A), Nov 7, 2003: Hughes 269A, Birmingham, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The helicopter air taxied to the southwest side of Birmingham Airport for the purpose of hovering the helicopter in a practice area on a training flight… 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.