# NTSB NYC00LA142: Heli-Eagle Ultrasport 496, N9258H, Newport News, VA, May 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2000, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Newport News, VA - Coordinates: 37.039264, -76.480995 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0393&lon=-76.4810&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49270/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - in ground effect ## Analysis The pilot performed one hover successfully, and set the helicopter down. During the second hover attempt, the helicopter spun to the right, and the skids contacted the ground. The helicopter 'rocked on its nose,' and the main rotor blades hit the ground. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter. The winds reported at the airport were from 190 degrees, at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2000, about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a Heli-Eagle Ultrasport 496, N9258H, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while hovering at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF), Newport News, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local company flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, at 1400, he hovered the helicopter to the "Nike site," a grassy area at PHF. He performed two traffic patterns and then shut the helicopter down, because of a "fairly stiff wind." At 1600, the pilot returned to the "Nike site" to perform additional hover work. He performed the first hover successfully, and set the helicopter down. During the second hover attempt, the wind spun the helicopter to the right, and the skids contacted the ground. The helicopter "rocked on its nose," and the main rotor blades hit the ground. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, who examined the helicopter after the accident, reported substantial damage to the main rotors, the tail rotor, and the "bubble" of the helicopter. Additionally, both skids were bent upward 90 degrees. The winds reported at the airport, at 1548, were from 190 degrees, at 10 knots. The pilot reported that he had accumulated about 4,500 hours of flight experience, all in helicopters, of which about 34 hours were in make and model. He also reported that during the 90 days previous to the accident, he had flown 11.3 hours, of which 1 hour was in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9258H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9258H-2002-04-15), registration cancelled 2002-04-15, S/N 00025, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Heli-Eagle Inc. ULTRASPORT 496 (ULTRASPORT) - Registry model: [Heli-Eagle ULTRASPORT 496](https://openairdocs.org/model/heli-eagle-ultrasport-496) (registry code 05605SQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth F30](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-f30) (registry code 33730, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 00025 - Airframe hours: 148 - Engines: Hirth F30 25 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Heli-Eagle Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2000, 1 hours before - Departed: PHF - Airport: PHF, Newport News/Williamsburg ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,500 total, 34 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PHF ## 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 20000523040609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000523040609A), May 23, 2000: Amtr ULTRASPORT, Newport News, VA, Substantial damage. (.4) On may 23, 2000, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a heli-eagle Ultrasport 496, N9258H, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while hovering… 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.