# NTSB FTW02LA104: Hughes 269A-1, N8942F, Fort Collins, CO, March 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 2002, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.588333, -105.034164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5883&lon=-105.0342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54411/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54411 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA104 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering. Contributing factors were the tailwind and gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis On takeoff during the instructional flight, the wind was variable at 2 to 3 knots. As the student was hovering the helicopter at approximately 3 feet agl, a sudden gust of wind caused the helicopter to "wobble." The instructor took control of the aircraft, and another wind gust turned the helicopter downwind. The instructor attempted to land. However, the wind continued to drive the helicopter forward with an excessive nose low attitude. With the tail rotor into the wind, creating a "high power demand and limited tail rotor authority," the helicopter "skipped" along the dirt 2 or 3 times, the right strut failed, and the aircraft to rolled over on its right side. The flight instructor reported the wind was gusting to 60 knots. The reported wind at a location 8 miles south of the accident site was 260 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 2002, approximately 1205 mountain standard time, a Hughes 269A-1 helicopter, N8942F, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while hovering at the Fort Collins Downtown Airport, near Fort Collins, Colorado. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Freedom Flight Services LLC, of Berthoud, Colorado. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the instructor pilot reported that the wind was 2 to 3 knots at the time of takeoff, but forecasted to be gusty in the afternoon. Shortly after lifting off and while hovering at an altitude of approximately 3 feet, the helicopter with the student pilot at the flight controls, encountered a very strong gust of wind and began to "wobble." The instructor took control of the helicopter, "picking it up" to approximately 15 feet, when another gust of wind hit the helicopter, turning it sideways, and then downwind. The instructor stated he was attempting "get it on the ground, but the wind continued to drive the helicopter forward with excessive nose over tendency." With the tail rotor into the wind, creating a "high power demand and limited tail rotor authority," the helicopter "skipped" along the dirt 2 or 3 times. The helicopter traveled forward 60 to 70 yards, the right strut failed, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The instructor pilot reported the wind was gusting to 60 knots at the time of the accident. At 1215, the reported weather at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, located 8 nm south of the accident site, was wind from 260 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 25 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 19 degrees C, dewpoint minus 6 degrees C, and an altimeter of 29.76 inches of mercury. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that all 3 main rotor blades were destroyed, the fuselage was bent, all Plexiglas broken, and the right skid was separated from the strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8942F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8942F-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 15-0019, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269A-1 - Registry model: [Hughes 269A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a-1) (registry code 4470404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1500019 - Airframe hours: 2270 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-AIA 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Freedom Flight Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: 3V5, Fort Collins, CO - Airport: 3V5, Fort Collins Downtown Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 11, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 86 total, 13 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 13 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 8 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 20020327005599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020327005599A), Mar 27, 2002: Hughes 269A1, Fort Collins, CO, No damage. (-23)Aircraft lifted off the pad under little or no wind conditions and headed toward the runway for takeoff when the wind gusted and caused the aircraft to… ## Other investigations on N8942F (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 DEN76DQA57](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76DQA57), Aug 14, 1976: Hughes 269A-1 (N8942F), Milagro, NM, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54411. 600 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Student) (item 2, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Student)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Redacted.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.