# NTSB IAD02LA033: Hughes 269C, N9296F, Lorain, OH, February 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 19, 2002, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Lorain, OH - Coordinates: 41.344165, -82.177497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3442&lon=-82.1775&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54212 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54212/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54212 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Analysis The accident occurred during the pilot's second solo takeoff in a helicopter, and his first takeoff from a platform. After quickly lifting off, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right. The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." The helicopter impacted the platform, then rolled onto its left side and impacted the ground. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On February 19, 2002, at 1510 eastern standard time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N9296F, was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt from a platform at the Lorain County Regional Airport (LPR), Lorain, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that during the takeoff, he lifted the helicopter "quickly" off the platform. As the helicopter gained altitude, it began a turn to the right, and the pilot applied left pedal. As the pilot continued to increase the collective, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right. The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." He added a slight amount of collective before landing, and the spin to the right became more aggravated. The helicopter then impacted the platform, and rolled over, onto its side. Several witnesses observed the helicopter "spinning" after liftoff from the platform, then impact the ground on its left side. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the helicopter after the accident. The tail rotor blades were rotated by hand and control continuity was confirmed to the main rotor blades. Control continuity was also confirmed from the cyclic and collective to the main rotor blades, and from the pedals to the tail rotor blades. All belts in the tail boom pulley assembly were in place, and the tail rotor drive shaft was twisted aft of the upper pulley assembly. The clutch switch and actuator were observed in the engaged position, and the belt tension pulley was engaged. The magneto switch was observed in the "both" position. Substantial damage was observed to the main rotor and tail rotor blades. The pilot reported 173 hours of total flight experience, and 30 hours of rotary wing flight time. He had 10 flight hours in make and model, and this was his second solo takeoff, and first time taking off from a platform. The winds reported at the airport, at 1453, were from 160 degrees at 8 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: N9296F (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 350407 - Airframe hours: 2053.2 - Engines: Lycoming RL-21866-51A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hurst Aviation - Registered owner: Rapidturn Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 27, 2001, 21.9 hours before - Departed: LPR - Destination: LPR - Airport: LPR, Lorain County Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 15, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 10 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LPR ## 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 20020219004849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020219004849A), Feb 19, 2002: Hughes 269C, Lorain / Elyria, OH, No damage. (-23) Helicopter student pilot (holding a fixed wing private pilot license) taking off from platform experienced abrupt right yaw upon pulling on collective.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54212. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Telephone Memorandums (item 5, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20Memorandums-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 6, .PDF, 853 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-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.