Aviation Crash Map

Hughes 269B N9333F

5 October 1993 · Linville, North Carolina, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 5 October 1993 at about 13:55 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N9333F, operated by Peterson, William E., was involved in an accident near Linville, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 13:55
Classification
Accident
Location
Linville, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates
36.0796, -81.8507
Aircraft
Hughes 269B
Registration
N9333F
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Peterson, William E.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ATL94LA002

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED THAT WOULD HAVE AVOIDED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE), AND HIS IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR TAILWIND CONDITION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF INFORMATION IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK REGARDING THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LTE MAY OCCUR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM A PRIVATE GOLF COURSE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ELEVATION WAS AT THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE HELICOPTER'S CAPABILITY TO HOVER IN GROUND EFFECT. AFTER DEPARTURE, A CLIMBING TURN WAS MADE TO THE NORTHEAST. ABOUT 300 FEET AT 40-45 MPH, THE TAIL PITCHED UP, ROTOR RPM DECAYED, AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER ROTATED CLOCKWISE ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. THE WIND WAS FROM THE WEST ABOUT THREE TO SIX KNOTS. AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED. AFTER TURNING 180 DEGREES, TO THE WEST, TREES WERE OVERFLOWN WHICH THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED. AFTER TURNING BACK INTO THE WIND, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS REGAINED AND THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN, HARD, ON THE GOLF COURSE. MANUFACTURER'S PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS THAT INVOLVED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS (LTE). AN OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE ACFT WAS CONSULTED. NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED REGARDING THE CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO LTE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Hughes 269 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 May 1993 Hughes 269C
N58407
Van Nuys, California, United States Orbic Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -
2 Jan 1993 Hughes 269C
N7462F
Folsom, California, United States Stanley L. van Vleck Serious injuries -
12 Oct 1993 Hughes 269A
N7032U
Coldwater, Michigan, United States Brooks Aero, Inc. No injuries -
15 Jun 1993 Hughes 269
N213MS
Valley City, North Dakota, United States Kriedelcamp, JON No injuries -
4 Feb 1993 Hughes 269A
N711CH
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Chappell Flight Service No injuries -
11 Jan 1993 Hughes 269C
N1088Z
Tonawanda, New York, United States Bucholtz Aviation Fatal 2

All 1,213 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
5 Sep 1993 Piper PA-32R-300
N5339F
Laurinburg, North Carolina, United States Terry Robert Moon Fatal 2
26 Sep 1993 Piper PA-24-250
N5586P
Boone, North Carolina, United States Coon, Gerald L. Fatal 4
22 Apr 1993 Short Brothers SD 3-60
N159CC
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Ccair, Inc Minor injuries -
29 Apr 1993 Cessna 150G
N2971J
Arden, North Carolina, United States Holt, Jason J. Minor injuries -
4 May 1993 Cessna 210M
N761CQ
Apex, North Carolina, United States - Minor injuries -
10 May 1993 Cessna 172
N4856D
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
no coordinates
Hiltz, Vera No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States