# NTSB NYC95LA170: Hughes 269B, N9483F, Honesdale, PA, July 22, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 1995, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Honesdale, PA - Coordinates: 41.569568, -75.250106 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5696&lon=-75.2501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39011 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39011/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA170 ## Probable cause Corrosion and subsequent failure of the attaching lugs for the left (4H) shock strut assembly, which resulted in collapse of the landing gear/skid. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, standing - engine(s) operating - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - corroded (cause) - miscellaneous,airframe - vibration - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - failure,total (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after takeoff from the heliport, 'He felt a low frequency vibration.' He elected to return to the heliport to determine the cause of the vibration. After the pilot landed, he had the collective positioned to full down when the helicopter began a violent forward and aft gyration. The main rotors struck the ground. Examination of the landing skids revealed that the left (4H) shock strut assembly had separated from the landing skid due to severe exfoiliation corrosion at both attaching lugs. All three remaining struts were attached. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 1995, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 269B, helicopter, N9483F, was destroyed after the landing gear skid collapsed while standing with the engine operating, at a private heliport (P48), near Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local, personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that after take off from the heliport he, "felt a low frequency vibration." He thought this was associated with the main rotor, so he elected to return to the heliport to determine the cause of the vibration. He landed on the helipad and tried to make radio contact with his instructor to advise him of the problem. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: ...the machine was completely on the ground with the pitch stick in the full down position. Rotor and engine RPM's were at operating range. I reached my cyclic hand to adjust the radio, and no sooner returned it [to the cyclic] to pull [the] trigger and talk...the helicopter began a violent forward and aft gyration and pounding...it proceeded to self destruct around me.... The examination of the landing skids, revealed that the left (4H) shock strut assembly had separated from the landing skid. According to the FAA Inspector's statement: ...severe exfoliation corrosion was noticed at both attaching lugs. The lugs had failed due to corrosion. All three (3) remaining shock struts were attached. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 224 total flight hours, 80 hours as a student pilot, rotorcraft, and 10 flight hours in this make and model helicopter. The reported winds, at the time of the accident, were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9483F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9483F-1998-02-21), registration cancelled 1998-02-21, S/N 1260289 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B - Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1260289 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ernest F. Kittner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: P48 - Airport: P-48, Evergreen Heliport, runway 36, 30 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 242 total, 10 in this make and model, 125 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19950722024659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950722024659A), Jul 22, 1995: Hughes 269B, Honesdale, PA, Destroyed. Vibration on takeoff. Returned. On ground engine and rotors idling. Severe forward and aft gyration. Strut collapsed ## Other investigations on N9483F (2) 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. - [NTSB IAD77FIG10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FIG10), Jan 23, 1977: Hughes 269B (N9483F), Gaithersburg, MD, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK72DVG36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVG36), Feb 21, 1972: Hughes 269B (N9483F), Winters, CA, substantial damage 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.