Hughes 269C N58397

Summary

On 21 July 2015 at about 19:30 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N58397 was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Texas, 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

21 July 2015 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlanta, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.1194, -94.1639

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N58397

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Atlanta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA197

Nobody was injured.

The non-helicopter rated pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner, who is not rated in helicopters, reported that he departed the airport and flew the helicopter for 4 miles before landing in a parking lot in the city. During the landing flare the tail rotor blades impacted the ground and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gear box and tail boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.