Hughes 269A N801CP

Summary

On 21 July 2005 at about 17:00 local time, a Hughes 269A registered N801CP was involved in an accident near Laurel, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 2005 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Laurel, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.7031, -108.7611

Aircraft

Hughes 269A

Registration

N801CP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Laurel → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05CA149

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm while executing a pinnacle approach, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was taking his initial flight instructor check ride in the helicopter with an FAA inspector acting as the check pilot. According to the pilot, during performance of a pinnacle approach, on final approach, about 300 to 400 yards from the pinnacle, he "got a bit shallow." He informed the check pilot that he "was going to level-off to regain a steep approach angle." After correcting the approach angle, he then continued the descent. Toward the end of the approach, the pilot began increasing lift to terminate the approach at a hover. He "had to do this somewhat early as we were still a bit high and a bit too far from the pinnacle." As he started to glance at the instruments, the check pilot called for a go-around. The pilot began the go-around (increasing collective and adding forward cyclic) and "then noticed our RPMs were low." According to the check pilot, "the approach to the pinnacle was a little shallow, but for the wind conditions was acceptable. At approximately 50 feet above the pinnacle, and with about 40 knots airspeed, the approach began to get steeper. I called for a go around. [The pilot] responded by lowering collective and moving aft on the cyclic." The check pilot "noticed the airspeed slow to around 20 knots" and "observed a reduction in rotor RPM and a large increase of manifold pressure." The helicopter began to yaw to the right rotating approximately 280 to 300 degrees clockwise prior to impacting the ground on its right side.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.