# NTSB MIA00FA029: Hughes 369HS, N395WM, Helena, AL, November 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 1999, 19:35 local (Nov 25, 1999, 01:35 UTC) - Place: Helena, AL - Coordinates: 33.27993, -86.850028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2799&lon=-86.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00FA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47849/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00FA029 ## Probable cause The pilots continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in his becoming spatially disoriented and loosing control of the helicopter, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling - weather condition - fog - light condition - night - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command - spatial disorientation, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot called the FAA, Anniston FSS about 15 minutes before departure and requested a weather briefing for a flight from Montgomery to Birmingham. The pilot was told that there was an airmet in effect for instrument flight rules conditions from Birmingham northward and that visual flight rules flight was not recommended. The flight departed Montgomery at about 1855. About 1935, witnesses heard the helicopter flying from south to north at a low altitude, making ' a steady, loud, whining noise.' About 2-3 seconds later they heard a 'thump' crash sound and then heard no more sound from the helicopter. They went outside of their house and observed the fire from the wreckage of N395WM. The witnesses stated that at the time of the accident the weather was dark and slightly foggy. Post-crash examination of the wreckage showed the helicopter had impacted in a near nose down vertical descent, while on a 185-degree heading. All components of the helicopter, which are necessary for flight, were located on or around the main wreckage. A post-crash fire had consumed the fuselage of the helicopter. Examination of the remaining portions of the helicopter structure, flight controls, main and tail rotor systems, and engine showed no evidence of pre-crash failure or malfunction. Damage to the main rotor system and engine drive shaft was consistent with the engine and rotor system operating at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 24, 1999, about 1935 (all times central standard time), a Hughes 369HS, N395WM, registered to Vertical Air, Inc., crashed near Helena, Alabama, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight last departed Dannelly Field, Montgomery, Alabama, the same day, about 1855. A person identifying himself as the pilot of N395WM called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Anniston Automated Flight Service Station, at 1301:50, stating he was visual flight rules from Birmingham to Montgomery, leaving around 1600, and flying in the area and coming back to Birmingham around 2000. The pilot was told "the airmets for instrument flight rules do expire around three o'clock today so it looks like you got a shot at that uh cold front pretty much right on top of you right now drifting real slow to the east the progs do indicate it's going to start to stall out here shortly though uh forecast for Birmingham for that time frame calls for four thousand broken all the way through ten pm tonight and Montgomery anywhere from three to five thousand broken to scattered so looks pretty good for you." The briefing concluded at 1303:03. See transcripts of communications. A person identifying himself as the pilot of N395WM called the FAA, Anniston Automated Flight Service Station, at 1839:43, stating he was in Montgomery, and would be leaving in the next 20 minutes, going toward Birmingham. The pilot was told "we got clouds looks like rains a little bit off to the north and east of your route of flight but ah with the front in the area it could be poppin up ah we do have an airmet from Birmingham northward for instrument flight rules conditions so visual flight rules not recommended but uh and right now Birmingham is down they were clear below twelve earlier now they're calling it eight hundred overcast with four miles in mist so they've dropped in a good bit uh Montgomery is still clear below twelve with ten miles and calm." The pilot was further told "the forecast is for cloud cover in the Birmingham area generally to be uh fifteen hundred scattered occasional overcast another layer at twenty five hundred feet six miles occasionally down to five light rain showers and mist wind three forty at six and really that's as far south as the airmet for instrument flight rules is right now." The pilot then asked "so if we can get there in forty five fifty minutes we might be okay." The weather briefer replied "right and if you do need to get back into visual flight rules conditions head south." The briefing ended at 1841:28. See transcripts of communications. A line serviceman for Montgomery Aviation, at Dannelly Field, Montgomery, Alabama, stated that N395WM arrived on the ramp with the pilot in the left front seat and the passenger in the right front seat. The pilot asked that he fuel the helicopter by adding 30 gallons of Jet-A fuel. The pilot also stated he was in a hurry because the weather was getting bad and the ceilings were going down. At 1850:51, the pilot of N395WM called the local controller at the FAA, Montgomery Air Traffic Control Tower, stating "we're over at ah Montgomery Aviation we're ready to depart ah toward ah the city and up sixty five to Birmingham." At 1854:35, the flight was cleared for takeoff on taxiway alpha with a left turn out. At 1855:46, the pilot was told to contact the FAA, Montgomery Departure Control. The pilot made contact with the departure controller, and when asked what his destination was, the pilot responded Shelby County. At 1915:47, the departure controller stated to the pilot that radar service was terminated, squawk visual flight rules code, and frequency change approved. The pilot did not respond to this transmission. See transcripts of communications. Recorded radar data from the FAA, Montgomery Approach Control, showed that after takeoff, the flight climbed to 1,800 feet msl, and flew a north-northwest heading. The flight was last observed on the Montgomery Approach Control radar at 19:14:27, while at a bearing of 335 degrees at 26 nm from Montgomery, at an altitude of 1,800 feet, on a heading of 327 degrees, and at a ground speed of 107 knots. See radar data. Witnesses located in a house near the crash site stated that shortly after 1930, they heard the helicopter fly over their house at a very low altitude, from south to north, making a steady, loud, whining noise. About 2-3 seconds later they heard a "thump" crash sound and then heard no more sound from the helicopter. They went outside and observed the fire from the helicopter wreckage on the hill to the north of their house. They stated the weather at the crash site was dark and slightly foggy. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a FAA commercial-pilot certificate, with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating, last issued on December 30, 1993. The pilot held a FAA second-class medical certificate, with no limitations, issued on January 20, 1999. The pilot's wife stated he lost his pilot logbook in 1996, and started a new logbook at that time. She further stated that he carried his pilot logbook with him when he flew the helicopter and that it would have been destroyed in the post crash fire. The pilot reported on his application for his second-class medical certificate on January 20, 1999, that he had 680 total flight hours, and had flown 45 flight hours in the previous six months. A flight instructor reported to NTSB that he had given the pilot a biennial flight review on January 15,1999. The pilot completed an aircraft standardization course for the McDonnell-Douglas model 500 helicopter, conducted by the University of North Dakota, on May 15, 1999. According to the University of North Dakota, the pilot was not signed off for a biennial flight review after the training. See University of North Dakota records. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The helicopter was a Hughes model 369HS. Maintenance records showed the helicopter had accumulated 5,483 total flight hours at the time of the accident. The helicopter was last inspected on May 17, 1999, 97 flight hours before the accident, when it received an annual inspection. See maintenance records. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The National Weather Service, Surface Analysis Chart for 1800 indicated a cold front extending from the northeastern United States through western North Carolina, northwestern Georgia, and southeastern Alabama into the Gulf of Mexico. Station plots on the chart showed mostly overcast cloud conditions west of the front over Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In addition, the station plots indicated northerly-northwesterly winds, diminishing temperatures, and patchy restricted visibilities west of the front. The Alabaster-Shelby County Airport, 1953 surface weather observation was winds 340 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, few clouds at 1,000 feet, temperature 64 degrees F, dew point temperature 62 degrees F, altimeter setting 30.11 inches hg. Alabaster-Shelby County Airport is located about 9 miles east-southeast of the accident site. The Birmingham International Airport, 1953 surface weather observation was winds 350 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clouds 800 feet overcast, temperature 57 degrees F, dew point 66 degrees F, altimeter setting 30.13 inches hg. The Birmingham International Airport is located about 20 miles north-northeast of the accident site. Sun and Moon data show that at the time and location of the accident the sun was at an altitude of -35.4 degrees on a 268-degree bearing. The moon was at an altitude of 14 degrees, on a bearing of 75.8 degrees, and had a 95 percent illumination. See NTSB Meteorological Group Chairman Factual Report. Witnesses near the accident site stated the weather was ## Aircraft - Registration: [N395WM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N395WM-2000-05-05), registration cancelled 2000-05-05, S/N 760828S (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369HS - Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 760828S - Airframe hours: 5483 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 278 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vertical Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1999, 97 hours before - Departed: MGM, MONTGOMERY, AL - Destination: BESSEMER, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 800 total, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 22 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 19991124044509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991124044509A), Nov 24, 1999: Hughes 369HS, Helena, AL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) At approx. 1915 CST, on November 24, 1999, a Hughes HU-369-HS, N395WM, registered to vertical air, inc. crashed in selby county, Alabama approx. 10 miles… 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.