# NTSB SEA06CA137: Hughes 369A, N72LB, Medford, OR, July 6, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2006, 16:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Medford, OR - Coordinates: 42.254165, -122.838333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2542&lon=-122.8383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64130/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's misinterpretation of the wind direction (in-flight planning) and subsequent improper descent rate to the ground during a landing attempt. A factor was the tailwind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that he flew a high reconnaissance circle over his intended landing site. He observed ripples on a pond which led him to believe that the wind was from the south. During his landing approach, as he descended to 10 to 15 feet AGL, he pulled up on the collective to extend his glide. The pilot said the helicopter started to settle and became very unstable. He "recognized it as settling with power down wind." He leveled the skids and the helicopter hit the ground; he said that 1 or 2 seconds later the helicopter began to lift and turn to the right. He applied left pedal with no response; he then lowered the collective. Subsequently, the left skid tube caught the ground and collapsed, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The main rotor blades did not come in contact with the ground or any part of the helicopter, but the tail rotor blades were broken. Additionally the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft were broken. The pilot said that after he got out of the helicopter, he noticed that the wind was variable with light gusts. He said that the pond was being filled with water which gave him an incorrect interpretation of the wind conditions for landing. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2006, at approximately 1655 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 369A, N72LB, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Medford, Oregon. The commercial pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The helicopter was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, cross-country flight which had originated from a private residence approximately 25 minutes earlier. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he flew a high reconnaissance circle over his intended landing site. He observed ripples on a pond which led him to believe that the wind was from the south. During his landing approach, as he descended to 10 to 15 feet AGL, he pulled up on the collective to extend his glide. The pilot said the helicopter started to settle and become very unstable. He "recognized it as settling with power down wind." He leveled the skids and the helicopter hit the ground; he said that 1 or 2 seconds later the helicopter began to lift and turn to the right. He applied left pedal with no response; he then lowered the collective. Subsequently, the left skid tube caught the ground and collapsed, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. The main rotor blades did not come in contact with the ground or any part of the helicopter, but the tail rotor blades were broken. Additionally the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft were broken. The pilot said that after he got out of the helicopter, he noticed that the wind was variable with light gusts. He said that the pond was being filled with water which gave him an incorrect interpretation of the wind conditions for landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N72LB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369A - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 691194 - Airframe hours: 4405 - Engines: Allison 250-C10D 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Holmes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2005, 44 hours before - Departed: NONE, Medford, OR - Destination: NONE, Jacksonville, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 188 total, 160 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 7 nm away 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.