# NTSB FTW96LA375: Hughes 269B, N9558F, Frisco, TX, September 1, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1996, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Frisco, TX - Coordinates: 33.139301, -96.809867 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1393&lon=-96.8099&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19969/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA375 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper touchdown procedure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command ## Analysis According to the operator, the pilot requested to rent a helicopter. He showed the operator his pilot certificate and flight log book; however, the operator did not record this information nor obtain a current address and telephone number. The pilot was not given a check out in the helicopter prior to the accident flight. The operator observed the pilot hover the helicopter, takeoff and depart the traffic pattern. The operator subsequently received a telephone call from the pilot stating he had landed the helicopter 'hard' at the North Dallas Jetport, which was under construction, and requested to be pick up. When the operator arrived at the North Dallas Jetport, he found the helicopter on its side, and the pilot could not be located. Injury is presumed. There were no reported eye witnesses to this accident. The FAA has no record of the named pilot having either an airman or a medical certificate. . ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1996, about 1730 central daylight time, a Hughes 269B helicopter, N9558F, registered to C and J Communications Inc., and operated by Addison Helicopters as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Frisco, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot was reported as not injured. The local flight originated from Addison Airport, Dallas, Texas, about 30 minutes before the accident. According to the operator, the pilot requested to rent a helicopter. He showed the operator his pilot certificate and flight log book; however, the operator did not record this information nor obtain a current address and telephone number. The pilot was not given a check out in the helicopter prior to the accident flight; however, the operator observed the pilot hover the helicopter, takeoff and depart the traffic pattern. The operator received a telephone call from the pilot stating he had landed the helicopter "hard" at the North Dallas Jetport, which was under construction, and requested to be pick up. When the operator arrived at the North Dallas Jetport, he found the helicopter on its side, and the pilot could not be located. There were no reported eye witnesses to this accident. Examination of the helicopter by a FAA inspector on September 5, 1996, at the Wills Point Airport revealed that all main rotor blades were damaged, the skid tubes and their fuselage attaching mounts were fractured, the tail rotor drive shaft was twisted nearly 180 degrees, and the tail rotor was damaged. The FAA has no record of the named pilot having either an airman or a medical certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9558F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9558F-2017-04-18), registration cancelled 2017-04-18, S/N 890441, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269B - Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 890441 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Addison Helicopters - Registered owner: C And J Communications, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ADS, DALLAS, TX - Airport: NONE, North Dallas Jetport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAL, 17 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 19960901025739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960901025739A), Sep 1, 1996: Hughes 269B, Atwood, KS, Substantial damage. Made hard landing. Helicopter bounced. Rolled on it side. Pilot left scene. Not located. Not identified. 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.