Hughes 269B N9484F

Summary

On 23 July 2013 at about 18:34 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N9484F, operated by Odonata LLC, was involved in an accident near Lewiston, Idaho, 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

23 July 2013 at 18:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Lewiston, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airp (KLWS)

Coordinates

46.3744, -117.0153

Aircraft

Hughes 269B

Registration

N9484F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Odonata LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lewiston → Lewiston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13CA337

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's incorrect application of the cyclic control during the landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was conducting a full down practice autorotation which involved landing the helicopter as the final step.  During the landing, the helicopter bounced  which resulted in the main rotor striking the tail boom, severing the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had applied more forward cyclic after the helicopter had contacted the ground. The pilot reported  no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.                     

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.