- Date
- April 27, 2001, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place
- Nacogdoches, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9508FHughes 269B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010427006979A
- Case key
- 52191
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 maintain clearance with the wires during takeoff. Contributory factors were the sunglare and the unmarked wires.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The helicopter was parked on a trailer between two T-hangars and under a power line. The pilot stated that he cleared the area around the helicopter; however, he did not clear the area directly over the helicopter. The pilot lifted off the trailer and impacted the power line approximately 30 feet above the ground. The pilot mentioned that at the time of the accident, "the sun was at an angle and intensity so that the wires were not visible." He also stated that the wires were not marked with red balls. The power line wrapped around the main rotor mast and partially separated one of the main rotor blades. The helicopter then entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground.
Factual narrative
On April 27, 2001, at 1740 central daylight time, a Hughes 269B helicopter, N9508F, was substantially damaged when it impacted wires and terrain during takeoff at the A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport near Nacogdoches, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, the helicopter was parked on a trailer between two T-hangars and under a power line. The pilot stated that he cleared the area around the helicopter; however, he did not clear the area directly over the helicopter. The pilot lifted off the trailer and impacted the power line approximately 30 feet above the ground. The pilot mentioned that at the time of the accident, "the sun was at an angle and intensity so that the wires were not visible." He also stated that the wires were not marked with red balls. The FAA inspector stated that the power line wrapped around the main rotor mast and partially separated one of the main rotor blades. The helicopter then descended and impacted the ground.
The FAA inspector stated that the mast, main rotor blades and cabin area sustained structural damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9508F
- Reported as
- Hughes 269B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1070338
- Airframe hours
- 10,000
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Roger A. Buis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 1, 2000
- Departed
- OCH · Nacogdoches, TX
- Destination
- Nacogdoches, TX
- Airport
- OCH · A.L. Mangham Jr. Regional
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
- 46
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- April 17, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,716 total · 200 in this make and model · 11,062 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
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 N9508F · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.