Hughes 369E N504AP

Summary

On 15 October 1996 at about 00:50 local time, a Hughes 369E registered N504AP was involved in an accident near Hesston, Kansas, United States. One person was 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.

Date

15 October 1996 at 00:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hesston, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

38.1291, -97.4197

Aircraft

Hughes 369E

Registration

N504AP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wichita → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

CHI97LA008

Nobody was injured.

the pilot selected unsuitable terrain for landing. The factors involved were: an inoperative landing light, dusk light conditions, and the terrain condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On the return flight to Newton Airport, the pilot decided to divert and land on his farm. While starting to land at his farm at dusk, his landing light was inoperative and the pilot decided to abort his landing. When the pilot added power, he heard a noise from either the transmission or the rotors and decided to make a precautionary landing in the golf course next to his farm that he knew well. During the roll on landing, the helicopter struck a dirt bank which damaged the right skid. The helicopter was put into a hover and then settled on to the golf course. The helicopter rolled to the right after landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.