Hughes 369D N5190C

Summary

On 15 December 1999 at about 23:50 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N5190C, operated by Colorado Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Peyton, Colorado, 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.

Date

15 December 1999 at 23:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Peyton, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.0301, -104.4798

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N5190C

Category

Helicopter

Operator

Colorado Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00FA028

Nobody was injured.

an uncontrolled touchdown following entry into a "out-of-ground effect" hover. Factors were loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in kind of aircraft and total experience in type of aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After being absent from flying for several years, the pilot was practicing in a type helicopter in which he had 6 hours total time and 1 hour of pilot in command time, all of which was in the preceding 30 days. Upon entering an 'out of ground effect' hover, tail rotor effectiveness was lost and the pilot made a hard landing with the helicopter turning to the right during touch down. The helicopter rolled on its side after touch down. There was one passenger on board and approximately 50 gallons of fuel.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.