# NTSB ATL82DA258: Hughes 269C, N8982F, Louisville, KY, September 1, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: September 1, 1982, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Location: 38.2542° N, 85.7594° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Louisville, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2542&lon=-85.7594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA258
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71499/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA258

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - initiated, pilot in command
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE TAKING OFF ON AN AERIAL TRAFFIC PATROL FOR A LOCAL RADIO STATION. HE WAS ISSUED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO FOLLOW A PRE-ESTABLISHED ROUTE. HOWEVER, AFTER DEPARTING, HE ENCOUNTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. HE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND HOVERED UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SUBSIDED. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE PILOT DEPARTED AGAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT AS PLANNED. WITH THE WEATHER DETERIORATING, HE RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT, THE VISIBILITY WAS REPORT AS 1/2 MILE. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 100 FT AGL, HE TURNED NORTHEAST INTO THE WIND TO GET CLOSE TO THE BOUNDRY ROAD AND FENCE AND TO GET VISUAL REFERENCES. ALSO, HE STATED THAT THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE BUBBLE WAS DISTORTED BY THE HEAVY DOWNPOUR AND BUBBLE FOG. WHILE ATTEMPTING A HOVER LANDING, HE TOUCHED DOWN, TAIL LOW, MOVING REARWARD. THE REAR PART OF THE SKIDS AND THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND AND CONTROL WAS LOST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8982F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8982F-1988-08-11), registration cancelled 1988-08-11, S/N 330190 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0190
- Airframe hours: 6094
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Helicopter Inc.
- Registered owner: Helicopter Inc.
- Departed: LOUISVILLE, KY
- Destination: LOUISVILLE, KY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Standiford Field, runway 19, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,883 total, 2,102 in this make and model, 7,476 as pilot in command, 342 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 17 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 160 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820901043269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820901043269A), Sep 1, 1982: Hughes 269C, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. Helicopter touched down nose high and moving rearward while landing in poor visibility. Skids dug in, rotors hit.

## Other investigations on N8982F (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 CHI87MA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87MA053), Dec 10, 1986: Hughes 269B (N8982F), Cross Plaines, IN, destroyed, 2 fatal

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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