# NTSB CEN14LA537: Hughes TH 55A, N5335U, Hudson, WI, June 10, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2014 - Place: Hudson, WI - Coordinates: 44.961387, -92.74472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9614&lon=-92.7447&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 1, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92390 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA537 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92390/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92390 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA537 ## Probable cause The nonhelicopter-rated pilot’s operation of the helicopter and its subsequent collision with trees during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes TH-55A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=4471004), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Hughes TH-55A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=4471004), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes TH-55A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=4471004), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes TH-55A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4471004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The passenger reported that the airline transport pilot, who was not helicopter-rated, took off in the helicopter with the intention of conducting a cross-country flight. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power, and the helicopter then descended into trees. The helicopter was subsequently moved back to the owner's repair station, and the wreckage was later discovered during routine surveillance of the station by the Federal Aviation Administration; the engine was not examined. The pilot did not report the accident and stated that there was no intent for flight when the helicopter was damaged. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2014, at an unknown time, a Hughes TH-55A, N5335U, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing after a reported loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from a parking lot in Hudson, Wisconsin. The non-rotorcraft rated airline transport pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to Aviation Consultant Expert Solutions LLC and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with the intended destination of Lake Elmo, Minnesota. During a routine surveillance of a Part 145 repair station in Sioux City, Iowa, on October 27, 2015, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors noticed some disassembled helicopter wreckage including rotor blades at the facility. The FAA inspectors were told that one of the repair station owners was involved in an accident with the helicopter in Hudson, Wisconsin, in June 2014. The pilot did not report the accident to the NTSB when it occurred. The pilot was contacted by NTSB and he reported that there was no intent for flight when the helicopter was damaged. The passenger who was on board at the time reported in an email that they took off from the JetPubs parking lot in Hudson, Wisconsin, with the intention of flying to Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter engine lost power and the helicopter descended contacting trees prior to impacting the ground. The pilot contacted his business partner stating that he crashed the helicopter and he needed help in moving it back to Iowa. The business partner stated he went to Wisconsin and the pilot already had the helicopter on a trailer. He stated the pilot showed him the wooded area on the west side of JetPubs where the accident occurred. The pilot's flight instructor reported to the FAA that the pilot had about 35 hours of rotorcraft flight training and he was not endorsed for solo flight. The engine was not examined following the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5335U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5335U-2018-03-15), registration cancelled 2018-03-15, S/N 64-18042 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES TH 55A - Registry model: [Hughes TH-55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55a) (registry code 4471004) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 64-18042 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Consultant Expert Solutions LLC - Registered owner: Aviation Consultant Expert Solutions LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Hudson, WI - Destination: 21D, Lake Elmo, MN - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 8,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20140610024459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140610024459A), Jun 10, 2014: Hughes TH-55A, Hudson, WI, Substantial damage. During routine surveillance, FAA inspectors from the des moines flight standards district office (dsm FSDO) discovered wreckage from a damaged helicopter… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92390. 5.1 MB in all. - FAA Memo (item 1, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Memo-Master.PDF - Email from Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Email from Passenger (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Passenger-Master.PDF - Statements (item 4, .PDF, 424 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441420&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 8 photos, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF 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.