# NTSB WPR13CA160: Hughes 269C, N90570, Rialto, CA, March 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 25, 2013, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Rialto, CA - Coordinates: 34.129165, -117.40139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1292&lon=-117.4014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86500/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86500 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA160 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering in a hover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, while in a hover before departure, he attempted a 360-degree right pedal turn. About 180 degrees into the turn, the rotation speed started to increase. The pilot thought his reaction to the increased rotation speed was not as decisive as it should have been, and the helicopter departing controlled flight. The pilot stated that he did not press on the left pedal; instead, he released pressure on the right pedal. The helicopter came to rest upright after impacting the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft and boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he reported that while in a hover prior to departure, he attempted a 360-degree right pedal turn. About 180 degrees into the turn, the rotation speed started to increase. The pilot thought his reaction to the increased rotation speed was not as decisive as it should have been, which resulted in the helicopter departing controlled flight. The pilot stated that he did not press on the left pedal; instead he released pressure on the right pedal. The helicopter came to rest upright after impacting the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft and boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90570](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90570-2016-08-11), registration cancelled 2016-08-11, S/N 1180736 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C - Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1180736 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Western Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Western Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: L67, Rialto, CA - Destination: L67, Rialto, CA - Airport: L67, Rialto Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,300 total, 20 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 20130325003729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130325003729A), Mar 25, 2013: Hughes 269C, Rialto, CA, Substantial damage. Rialto, CA. (L67): prior to take-off the student pilot attempted a 360 degree clearing turn to the right. At approximately 180 degrees the rotation accelerated… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86500. 186 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Report from Federal Aviation Administration (RAL FSDO) (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20(RAL%20FSDO)-Redacted.PDF 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.