# NTSB SEA05CA083: Hughes 269A, N7054C, Whitefish, MT, April 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2005, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Whitefish, MT - Coordinates: 48.45, -114.449996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4500&lon=-114.4500&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 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 61330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61330/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA083 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. Gusting winds and the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, hover - in ground effect - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he had just purchased this helicopter and had accumulated a total flight time of four hours in this make and model. Total flight time in all aircraft was reported as 41 hours. The student pilot stated that he was practicing hovering and hovering turns into a 'sporadic" north wind. The student pilot reported that he made a turn to the south, and "while doing so a gust of wind spun me to the east (loss of tail rotor effectiveness)." The right skid contacted the surface and the helicopter tipped to the right side. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 2005, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 269A, N7054C, registered to and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the terrain following a loss of control while hovering over a field near Whitefish, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from an off airport location near the pilot's residence. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he just purchased this helicopter and had accumulated a total flight time of four hours in this make and model. Total flight time in all aircraft was reported as 41 hours. The pilot stated that he was practicing hovering and hovering turns into a "sporadic" north wind. The pilot reported that he made a turn to the south, and "while doing so a gust of wind spun me to the east (loss of tail rotor effectiveness)." The right skid contacted the surface and the helicopter tipped to the right side. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7054C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7054C-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N 480831, built 1967 (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: 480831 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jayson C. Sandelin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Whitefish, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 2; flight hours: 41 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050417005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050417005859A), Apr 17, 2005: Hughes 269A, Whitefish, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot states he decided to practice hovering in a HU-269-A although he has had no time in that model in over one year. Student has 2.4 hours in a… 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.