# NTSB SEA00LA193: Hughes 269B, N9503F, Laurel, MT, September 27, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2000, 17:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Laurel, MT - Coordinates: 45.60007, -108.680709 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6001&lon=-108.6807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50372/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA193 ## Probable cause Failure to maintain aircraft control during hover operations. Inadequate remedial action by the pilot was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis While practicing takeoffs and landings, the student pilot inadvertently applied excessive collective input during the second takeoff of his first solo flight, and the helicopter climbed to approximately 12 feet AGL. This action resulted in a decay of rotor RPM and loss of tail rotor effectiveness, followed by a yaw to the right. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter as it continued to spin, and ascending to approximately 50 feet AGL. After 2-3, 360-degree revolutions, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2000, about 1710 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Hughes 269B, N9503F, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while hovering at Laurel Municipal Airport, Laurel, Montana. The helicopter is owned and operated by Northern Skies Aviation of Laurel, Montana, and was being operated as a solo instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from Laurel, about 5 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot submitted a written statement to the NTSB dated October 6, and reported that while practicing takeoffs and landings, he inadvertently applied excessive collective input during the second takeoff, and the helicopter climbed to approximately 12 feet above ground level (AGL). He wrote, in part: "This action caused a decay in rotor RPM and I felt a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, followed by a yaw to the right. I tried several different control inputs, but nothing seemed to help me gain control." The helicopter continued to spin as it ascended to approximately 50 feet AGL. After 2-3, 360-degree revolutions, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, fuselage and main rotor assembly. At the time of the accident, the student pilot had accumulated 12 hours of dual instruction in the accident helicopter. The accident flight was the student pilot's first solo flight. No mechanical difficulties or failures were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9503F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9503F-2018-06-08), registration cancelled 2018-06-08, S/N 1060271 (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: 1060271 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kent Potter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 6S8, LAUREL, MT - Airport: 6S8, Laurel Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BIL, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000927015129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000927015129A), Sep 27, 2000: Hughes 269B, Laurel, MT, No damage. (-23) Instructor states student, on second solo pickup, picked up the heli to 3-foot stabilizer hover. Unintentionally raised the collective, thus climbing to… ## Other investigations on N9503F (1) 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 LAX71FUA26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUA26), Nov 11, 1970: Hughes 269B (N9503F), Lakewood, 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.