# NTSB NYC99LA217: Hughes 269C, N58397, Utica, NY, September 1, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1999, 10:22 local (14:22 UTC) - Place: Utica, NY - Coordinates: 43.099941, -75.229309 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0999&lon=-75.2293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47272/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of total experience in helicopters. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot performed two uneventful quick stops. On the third quick stop, he lowered the collective 'too much with no forward motion' and the helicopter landed 'hard.' The helicopter's tail rotor contacted the taxiway and the aft portion of the helicopter's landing skid was pushed outward. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported 20.6 hours of total flight experience in helicopters, all in the accident helicopter's make and model. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1999, about 1022 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 269C, N58397, was substantially damaged while maneuvering at the Oneida County Airport, (UCA) Utica, New York. The certificated student pilot (SP) was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed a private heliport, in Oriskany, New York. The local instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he was performing ground proximity maneuvers which included two uneventful "quick stops." He further stated: "...The third quick stop was on a heading of approximately 090 [degrees] into the wind of around 5 knots. I apparently lowered the collective too much with no forward motion. I did not stop the settling and made a hard landing on the rear of the skids..." The helicopter's tail rotor contacted the taxiway and the aft portion of the helicopter's landing skid was pushed outward. Examination of the helicopter by the FAA Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported 20.6 hours of total flight experience in helicopters, all in the accident helicopter's make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58397](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58397), registered now, S/N 1090833, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1090933 - Airframe hours: 3617 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Richard Rabe - Registered owner: Helicorp Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE, ORISKANY, NY - Destination: UCA - Airport: UCA, Oneida County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; student, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 748 total, 21 in this make and model, 585 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UCA ## 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 19990901045989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990901045989A), Sep 1, 1999: Hughes 269C, Utica, NY, No damage. (-23) No narrative ## Other investigations on N58397 (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 GAA15CA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA197), Jul 21, 2015: Hughes 269C (N58397), Atlanta, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-helicopter rated pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in impact with terrain. - [NTSB SEA84LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA153), Jul 2, 1984: Hughes 269C (N58397), Mt. St. Helens, WA, destroyed 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.