# NTSB FTW96LA125: Hughes 269A, N8897F, Dallas, TX, February 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 1996, 20:00 local (Feb 17, 1996, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Dallas, TX - Coordinates: 32.809944, -96.87944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8099&lon=-96.8794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19765/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA125 ## Probable cause Failure of the unqualified helicopter pilot to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors relating to the accident were: his lack of total experience in helicopters and his improper decision to attempt to hover without appropriate training/endorsement for flight in the helicopter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - light condition - dusk - aircraft control - not maintained, unqualified person (cause) - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, unqualified person (contributing factor) - improper decision, unqualified person (contributing factor) - inadequate training, unqualified person (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - Roll over, hover ## Analysis The owner of a newly purchased helicopter was a student pilot. He decided to make a maintenance run-up and to perform an operational check of the newly installed radios. The student stated that his intentions were to bring the helicopter into a hover, but remain in the same location. After lift-off, the student lost control of the helicopter. Subsequently, it touched down hard, rolled over, and came to rest on its side. According to his logbook, the student pilot/owner of the helicopter had accumulated a total of 88.6 hours in single engine airplanes, of which 0.6 hours were solo. He stated that he had accumulated 2.5 hours in the accident helicopter before the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 1996, at 2000 central standard time, a Hughes 269A helicopter, N8897F, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while hovering near Dallas, Texas. The student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the maintenance flight. According to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at the Addison Airport, they were contacted by the student pilot who advised them that "he was going to perform a maintenance run up, but remain in the same location." According to witnesses, the pilot lost control as the helicopter as it came to a hover. The helicopter landed hard, rolled over and came to rest on its side. According to the pilot a new radio and transponder were installed in his newly purchased helicopter. The pilot stated that his intentions were to perform an operational check of the newly installed radios. The pilot's logbook was found at the accident site. The logbook revealed that the student pilot had accumulated a total of 88.6 flight hours in single engine airplanes, of which 0.6 hours were solo. On the enclosed NTSB form 6120.1/2 the pilot states that he had accumulated 2.5 hours in the accident aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8897F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8897F-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 83-0274, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269A - Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 830274 - Airframe hours: 2925 - Engines: Lycoming HO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald M. Megliola - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ADS - Destination: ADS - Airport: ADS, Addison ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3 total, 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 19960217002099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960217002099A), Feb 17, 1996: Hughes 269A, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. Helicopter lifted off pad and flipped over. (-23) on February 16, 1996, at approximately 1958 CST a Hughes 269A, N8897F crashed on the ramp at the Addison… ## Other investigations on N8897F (3) 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 CEN10CA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA280), Jun 1, 2010: Hughes 269A (N8897F), Cannon Falls, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain rotor speed during the autorotation, which resulted in an excessive sink rate and a hard landing. - [NTSB MIA77DKJ71](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKJ71), Aug 11, 1977: Hughes 269A1 (N8897F), Mt.Meigs, AL, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA76FKG51](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76FKG51), Apr 3, 1976: Hughes 269A (N8897F), Comer, GA, substantial damage 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.