Hughes TH-55A N7057H
12 June 2013 · Morgantown, West Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 12 June 2013 at about 16:30 local time, a Hughes TH-55A registered N7057H, operated by DAH Aircraft LLC, was involved in an accident near Morgantown, West Virginia, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.6064, -80.0308
- Aircraft
- Hughes TH-55A
- Registration
- N7057H
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- DAH Aircraft LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Morgantown → Philippi
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA13CA283
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate planning which resulted in an encounter with settling with power and descent into terrain during takeoff.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was attempting to reposition the helicopter from an off-airport site in advance of an approaching storm. Following an uneventful preflight inspection and engine start, the pilot climbed the helicopter into a hover and turned toward his intended departure path. He then pushed the cyclic control forward and increased the collective pitch in order to clear some approaching trees. The pilot then realized that “appropriate power” was not available, and turned right in order to avoid the trees. The helicopter subsequently settled with power and impacted the brush below, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter, nor were any discovered during a postaccident examination of the airframe and engine. The pilot additionally stated that the accident could have been prevented with “better situational awareness.”
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes TH-55A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 2014 | Hughes TH 55A | Hudson, Wisconsin, United States | Aviation Consultant Expert Solutions LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 2003 | Hughes TH-55A | West Lafayette, Indiana, United States | Dennis G. Lockrey | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 2000 | Hughes TH-55A | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1998 | Hughes TH-55A | Savannah, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 1994 | Hughes TH-55A | Houghton, Michigan, United States | Jesse Jane Stafford | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1994 | Hughes TH-55A | Savannah, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 2013 | Cessna 172P | Davis, West Virginia, United States | McLean Holding Group LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2013 | Hughes 369D | Center Point, West Virginia, United States | DAH Aircraft LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 2013 | Cessna 172N | Summersville, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 2013 | Millhouse D Scott KITFOX II | Logan, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 2012 | Prendergast John/Vans RV-7A | Gerrardstown, West Virginia, United States | John Prendergast | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 2014 | Mooney M20C | Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States | STONEMAN EXCAVATING Co. INC | Serious injuries | - |