Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft TH55A/269A N488MC

Summary

On 26 June 2012 at about 19:33 local time, a Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft TH55A/269A registered N488MC, operated by Lowry Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Grinnell, Iowa, 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

26 June 2012 at 19:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Grinnell, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Grinnell (GGI)

Coordinates

41.7058, -92.7347

Aircraft

Schweizer(Hughes)Aircraft TH55A/269A

Registration

N488MC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Lowry Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Sharon → Grinnell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA402

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind during a hovering maneuver, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot and his passenger were returning to the airport after a local flight. In preparation to land, the pilot approached a grassy area adjacent to the runway and entered a hover into a 12-knot wind that was gusting to 16 knots. The pilot then made a right-pedal turn downwind. He said that during the turn the wind caught the tail and the helicopter began to spin. The pilot could not stop the turning; the tailrotor struck a fence, and the main rotor blades hit the ground. A review of photographs of the helicopter taken after the accident revealed that the tail rotor blades, main rotor blades, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.