# NTSB SEA97LA065: Hughes 269C, N5160N, Hood River, OR, February 21, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1997, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Hood River, OR
- Coordinates: 45.610515, -121.580924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6105&lon=-121.5809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42568/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA065

## Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's misjudgment of altitude and airspeed during a turn.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot-in-command, a flight instructor, was conducting a demonstration flight to a prospective student.  He executed a descending right turn out of a cyclic climb, during which he reported that he 'ran out of collective' and the helicopter impacted the terrain with the right rear skid. The pilot reported that he stopped in a hover, assessed the damage, and then hover taxied to a landing.  Winds were calm at the time.

## Factual narrative

On February 21, 1997, approximately 1000 Pacific standard time, a Hughes 269C, N5160N, being flown by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain while maneuvering near the Hood River airport, Hood River, Oregon. The commercial pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions with calm winds prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a demonstration flight for the passenger, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the Hood River airport.

The operator reported that the pilot was demonstrating a "crop dusting turn" to the passenger, a prospective student. During the maneuver the pilot reportedly "ran out of collective" and the right rear skid impacted the terrain deforming both the skids and the cross tubes and attaching fuselage structure.

The pilot, a flight instructor, reported that he had executed a "cyclic climb, leveled out, began a descending turn to the right" and "ran out of collective" during which the helicopter "struck the ground on the right side." The pilot stopped in a hover, assessed the damage and then landed the helicopter at the Hood River airport.

The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the rotorcraft at the time.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5160N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5160N), registered now, S/N 1076 (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: 1076
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Skyfire
- Registered owner: Weinstein, Brian
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 4S2
- Airport: 4S2, Hood River

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 550 total, 250 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DLS, 15 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 19970221045139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970221045139A), Feb 21, 1997: Hughes 269C, Hood River, OR, Substantial damage. Demo of crop dusting turn to prospective student. Ran out of collective. Skids bent on impact. Hovered and landed.

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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