# NTSB NYC04CA096: Hughes 269B, N9520F, Farmingdale, NY, March 27, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 27, 2004, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Farmingdale, NY
- Coordinates: 40.72861, -73.41333
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7286&lon=-73.4133&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58959/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA096

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while hover-taxiing.  A factor in this accident was the high wind condition.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, hover
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The pilot was hover-taxiing at a height of 5-feet, when a gust of wind blew the helicopter sideways and to the right.  The right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over.  The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions.  He reported 450 hours of total rotorcraft flight experience, which included 26 hours in make and model.  Wind speeds of 15 knots, with 18 knot gusts, were reported about the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On March 27, 2004, about 1600 eastern standard time, a Hughes 269B, N9520F, was substantially damaged while hover-taxiing at Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York.  The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated he was hover-taxiing to runway 32, at a height of 5-feet, when a gust of wind blew the helicopter sideways and to the right.  The right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over.

The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions.  He reported 450 hours of total rotorcraft flight experience, which included 26 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.

Winds speeds of 15 knots, with 18 knot gusts were reported FRG, about the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9520F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9520F-2004-09-20), registration cancelled 2004-09-20, S/N 580362, built 1968 (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: 580362
- Airframe hours: 13332
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John J. Tomaino
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2003, 32 hours before
- Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY
- Destination: FRG
- Airport: FRG, Republic

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 9, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 17,400 total, 26 in this make and model, 16,800 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: FRG

## 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 20040327021199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040327021199A), Mar 27, 2004: Hughes 269B, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 27, 2004 Mr. John tomaino, certificate #1815148, was pilot in command of N9520F, a HU-269-B. Mr. Tomaino stated that he lost tail rotor…

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.

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