# NTSB CHI97LA008: Hughes 369E, N504AP, Hesston, KS, October 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 1996, 19:50 local (Oct 15, 1996, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Hesston, KS - Coordinates: 38.129131, -97.419738 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1291&lon=-97.4197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10477/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA008 ## Probable cause the pilot selected unsuitable terrain for landing. The factors involved were: an inoperative landing light, dusk light conditions, and the terrain condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing ## Analysis On the return flight to Newton Airport, the pilot decided to divert and land on his farm. While starting to land at his farm at dusk, his landing light was inoperative and the pilot decided to abort his landing. When the pilot added power, he heard a noise from either the transmission or the rotors and decided to make a precautionary landing in the golf course next to his farm that he knew well. During the roll on landing, the helicopter struck a dirt bank which damaged the right skid. The helicopter was put into a hover and then settled on to the golf course. The helicopter rolled to the right after landing. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 1996, at 1950 central daylight time (cdt), a Hughes 369-E, registered to Executive Aircraft Corporation of Newton, Kansas, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing on a private field in Hesston, Kansas. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Wichita Mid- Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas at 1930 cdt. According to the pilot's written statement, he was running late that evening and decided to land at his farm instead of landing at Newton Airport. On final approach to his farm, the pilot said he encountered some swirling winds. He decided to abort the landing because it was dusk and proceed to Newton Airport as planned. While adding power, he heard the transmission or the rotor blades making an unusual noise. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing in the golf course next to the farm that the pilot knew well. During the slide on landing, the helicopter impacted an object that put the helicopter into a hover. As the settled back to the ground, the helicopter rolled to the right and the pilot was unable to stop it. The pilot stated, "...there was a mound of dirt I [pilot] didn't see that damaged the RH [right] skid thus causing the roll over to the right on set down." A Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector (POI) represented the NTSB during the on-scene investigation. The POI's visual examination of the helicopter revealed a damaged right skid with dirt on it and an inoperative landing light. There was an irrigation ditch being dug between the farm and the golf course with a ground scar in the direction of the flight path. The POI stated that the pilot told him that the landing light wouldn't working on final approach to land on his farm and decided to abort the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N504AP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N504AP-2006-11-15), registration cancelled 2006-11-15, S/N 0094E, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369E (369-E) - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-369e) (registry code 4470707) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0094E - Engines: Allison 250--C20B 450 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Executive Aircraft Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ICT, WICHITA, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 125 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EWK ## 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 19961014032109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961014032109A), Oct 14, 1996: Hughes 369E, Hesston, KS, Substantial damage. Running late elected land at his farm. Landing light inop. Aborted. Unknown noise. Rolled landing on golf course. 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.