# NTSB SEA03LA158: Hughes 269C, N171FF, Melba, ID, July 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2003, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Melba, ID - Coordinates: 43.315555, -116.509719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3156&lon=-116.5097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57583 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57583/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA158 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter due to his failure to maintain rotor rpm. Factors contributing to the accident were the corn crop, and the pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid obstacles. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, maneuvering - maneuver to avoid obstructions - misjudged, pilot in command - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis As the pilot was approaching the north end of the field from the south, about 2 feet above the corn stalks at 30 knots, he began a climbing right pedal turn. Approximately 30 to 40 degrees through the turn, the pilot misjudged his distance from wires that bordered the field. The pilot stopped the pedal turn and applied right forward cyclic. As the helicopter began to sink the pilot applied forward cyclic and additional throttle to gain airspeed and to minimize the descent. The pilot then applied aft cyclic and collective to stop the descent, but the helicopter's right skid impacted the corn causing it to veer right before impacting the ground and coming to rest on its left side. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2003, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N171FF, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain while maneuvering to reverse direction near Melba, Idaho. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Silverhawk Aviation Inc., of Caldwell, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Caldwell Industrial Airport, Caldwell, Idaho, at 0930. According to interviews with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, an FAA inspector, and as reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB for 6120.1/2), on July 25, 2003, the pilot was given two flights to demonstrate and evaluate him on helicopter pollination operations. On the day of the accident the pilot was signed off and dispatched to fly 172 acres of corn fields for pollination. The pilot stated that on the final field of the day he was flying from south to north, 2 feet above the corn stalks at 30 knots, when he misjudged his distance to the wires bordering the north side of the field. As he approached the north end of the field he began a climb and a right pedal turn while looking for the wires. The pilot reported that approximately 30 to 40 degrees into the turn he saw the wires at eye level, stopped the pedal turn and applied right forward cyclic. The pilot stated he felt a slight "cyclic shutter" as the aircraft began to sink. He then applied forward cyclic and additional throttle to gain speed and minimize the descent rate. As the aircraft approached the ground the pilot applied aft cyclic to bring the nose up and "pumped the collective" to stop the descent. The aircraft's right skid impacted the corn, causing the nose of the aircraft to veer right as the aircraft pitched forward hitting the ground and coming to rest on its left side. The pilot reported that he then turned off the master switch, shut off the fuel, and egressed the helicopter uninjured. There was no post-impact fire. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that the tail boom had been cut through and was substantially damaged. He also reported that all main rotor blades were bent, the right skid was broken, and the tail rotor drive shaft had separated from the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N171FF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171FF-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N S1200 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S1200 - Airframe hours: 6754 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Silverhawk Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Silverhawk Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 2002, 12.5 hours before - Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Destination: Melba, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 297 total, 58 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: EUL, 25 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 20030728036749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030728036749A), Jul 28, 2003: Hughes 269C, Melba, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was heading north at two feet above corn stalks at 30 KTS, and started a cyclic climb to gain altitude, looking for wires aligned at north end… 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.