- Date
- May 28, 2001, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fairfield, KY
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9660FHughes 269C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010528010219A
- Case key
- 52344
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during takeoff, and his inadequate reconnoiter of the area prior to takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he initially overflew the field, and looked for power lines and transmission poles. He noticed one pole, but his attention was diverted, and didn't notice any other poles or power lines. The pilot made his approach, brought the helicopter into a hover, and hovered for about 1 minute. The pilot then looked for obstacles in his departure path, but didn't see any. He initiated the takeoff, and during the departure, the helicopter struck a power line. The pilot then performed an autorotation to the ground.
Factual narrative
On May 28, 2001, about 1400 Eastern Daylight Time, a Hughes 269C, N9660F, was substantially damaged when it struck a power line while taking off from a field in Fairfield, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which originated at Samuels Field (BRY), Bardstown, Kentucky. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he initially overflew the field, and looked for power lines and transmission poles. He noticed one pole, but his attention was diverted, and didn't notice any other poles or power lines. The pilot made his approach, brought the helicopter into a hover, and hovered for about 1 minute. The pilot then looked for obstacles in his departure path, but didn't see any. He initiated the takeoff, and during the departure, the helicopter struck a power line. The pilot then performed an autorotation to the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9660F
- Reported as
- Hughes 269C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 110089
- Airframe hours
- 2,884
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John C. Mayer
- Registered owner
- Air Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 11, 2001 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- BRY · Bardstown, KY
- Airport
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 359 total · 9 in this make and model · 294 as pilot in command · 99 in the last 90 days · 64 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- LOU, 30 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.
Other investigations on N9660F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.