# NTSB SEA02LA150: Hughes 269A, N90271, Covington, WA, August 10, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2002, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Covington, WA
- Coordinates: 47.337223, -122.103614
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3372&lon=-122.1036&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55473/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA150

## Probable cause

Aircraft control not maintained while hovering.

## Analysis

In a written statement the student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first attempt to hover the helicopter, solo.  He reported that after his instructor exited the helicopter, and as he raised the collective in preparation for takeoff  "The helicopter jumped into the air and moved to the right." He said that he inadvertently over corrected for the situation, and the helicopter started to move toward where his instructor was standing.  In an effort to control the movement of the helicopter he "...immediately pulled the cyclic to rear."  The helicopter's tail rotor subsequently struck the ground, and sustained substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2002, approximately 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 269A helicopter, N90271, registered to Seaquest Expeditions Inc. of Eugene, Oregon, and being flown by a student pilot on his first solo flight, was substantially damaged when its tail rotor contacted terrain during liftoff from Crest Airpark (S36), Covington, Washington.  The solo student pilot was not injured in the accident.  Visual flight rules (VFR) weather conditions (ceiling 2,200 feet broken, visibility 10 statute miles), with winds from 290 degrees true at 4 knots, were reported at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, at 0956, and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 local instructional flight.

In a written statement the student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first attempt to hover the helicopter, solo.  He reported that after his instructor exited the helicopter, and as he raised the collective in preparation for takeoff  "The helicopter jumped into the air and moved to the right." He said that he inadvertently over corrected for the situation, and the helicopter started to move toward where his instructor was standing.  In an effort to control the movement of the helicopter he "...immediately pulled the cyclic to rear."  The helicopter's tail rotor subsequently struck the ground, and sustained substantial damage.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - ground

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90271](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90271), registered now, S/N 65-18261, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 269A
- Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 65-18261
- Airframe hours: 5309
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Charles Douglas
- Registered owner: Seaquest Expeditions Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2001, 61 hours before
- Departed: S36, Covington, WA
- Destination: S36
- Airport: S36, Crest Airpark

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 28 total, 27 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: SEA, 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 20020810023529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020810023529A), Aug 10, 2002: Hughes 269A, Kent, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) At a hover the helicopter drifted rearward causing the left rear skid to make ground contact and damage to the tail rotor blades/tail rotor gear box.

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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