- Date
- April 27, 2008, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lincoln, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1020QHughes 269A
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080427833159A
- Case key
- 67896
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly execute a steep approach, which resulted in a tail strike and a loss of control.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The commercial rated pilot was practicing a steep approach in a single-engine helicopter, when she flared too low to the ground and the tail rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the tail rotor drive shaft failed and the pilot was unable to maintain control of the helicopter. The rear portion of the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on to its side. Examination of the helicopter revealed it sustained substantial damage to the mast, tail boom, and the right skid was torn from the fuselage.
Factual narrative
The 35-year-old commercial rated pilot was practicing a steep approach in a single-engine helicopter, when she flared too low to the ground and the tail rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the tail rotor drive shaft failed and the pilot was unable to maintain control of the helicopter. The rear portion of the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on to its side. Examination of the helicopter revealed it sustained substantial damage to the mast, tail boom, and the right skid was torn from the fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1020Q
- Reported as
- Hughes 269A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 115-0426
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Chandra Clanton
- Registered owner
- Advanced Air Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE · Lincoln, NE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,672 total · 23 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days
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.
Other investigations on N1020Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.