# NTSB CEN17LA229: Hughes 269C, N7482F, Tallulah, LA, June 10, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2017, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Tallulah, LA
- Coordinates: 32.351665, -91.027778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3517&lon=-91.0278&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Ground resonance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95371/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95371
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA229

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to reset the cyclic trim before takeoff, which resulted in ground resonance.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Ground resonance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot reported that the helicopter's engine start and run-up were normal. At full power for takeoff, the helicopter began to vibrate. The pilot "rolled the throttle off" and lowered the collective; however, the vibrations became worse and the helicopter "began to destroy itself." He reported that he had not re-centered before the cyclic trim before takeoff as noted on the checklist, and it remained at a nearly full-forward position from the previous flight. He noted that if the cyclic had been centered, the vibrations would have stopped. However, with the trim full forward, the rotor blades began hitting the stops, causing the vibrations. The pilot added that there were no malfunctions or failures with the helicopter before the accident.

## Factual narrative

On June 10, 2017, about 1320 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N7482F, was substantially damaged during a ground resonance event at the Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport (TVR), Tallulah, Louisiana. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was registered to Wade and Son, Inc., and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that the cyclic trim was not re-centered before takeoff as noted on the checklist. Instead, it remained at a nearly full forward position from the previous flight. The engine start and run-up were normal. At full power for takeoff, the helicopter began to vibrate. The pilot "rolled the throttle off" and lowered the collective; however, the vibrations became worse and the helicopter "began to destroy itself." He noted that if the cyclic had been centered, the vibrations would have stopped. However, with the trim full forward, the rotor blades began hitting the stops causing the vibrations. The pilot added that there were no malfunctions or failures with the helicopter before the accident. The helicopter came to rest upright on the airport ramp. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine had partially separated from the airframe and the main rotor gearbox had separated from the rear bulkhead. The landing skid dampers appeared intact, with no visible damage or fluid leakage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7482F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7482F), registered now, S/N 170576 (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: 170576
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 3193.4
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2017, 20 hours before
- Departed: TVR, Tallulah, LA
- Destination: TVR, Tallulah, LA
- Airport: TVR, Vicksburg Tallulah Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,122 total, 41 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: TVR, 1 nm away

## 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 20170610009439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170610009439A), Jun 10, 2017: Hughes 269C, Tallulah, LA, Substantial damage. When interviewed, the [privacy data omitted]pilot explained that he had flown in to talullah and shut down the helicopter to attend a gathering for a few…

## Other investigations on N7482F (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 CHI80FER44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FER44), Jun 3, 1980: Hughes 269C (N7482F), Dexter, MN, destroyed

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95371. 535 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records -- Excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Excerpts-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.

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