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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

December 7, 1992 · Hughes 269B · N9566F

Kahului, HI

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 7, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Kahului, HI
Aircraft
Hughes 269B
Tail Number
N9566F
Operator
Maui Wing and Rotor
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93LA063

A Hughes 269B ditched in the ocean after an inflight loss of control. The helicopter was in cruise flight about 100 feet above the water. The pilot descended to about 20 feet above the water and decelerated to about 20 miles per hour. The helicopter began to vibrate and the main rotor RPM began to drop. The pilot turned right and increased the throttle. The pilot noticed the manifold pressure increased commensurate with the throttle application; however, the rotor RPM continued to drop. The pilot lowered the collective to regain main rotor RPM but due to the low altitude the helicopter descended into the water. The pilot reported that a tail wind existed when the helicopter experienced the loss of main rotor RPM. The winds at the local airport located 1.5 miles from the accident site were reported to be from 110 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 29 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot had accrued 75 hours in helicopters of which 40 hours were in the accident helicopter make and model and 30 hours were as pilot in command.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING DOWNWIND FLIGHT AND ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO RECOVER THE LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM BEFORE SETTLING INTO THE WATER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

Full Narrative

A HUGHES 269B DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AFTER AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE WATER. THE PILOT DESCENDED TO ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE WATER AND DECELERATED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE MAIN ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DROP. THE PILOT TURNED RIGHT AND INCREASED THE THROTTLE. THE PILOT NOTICED THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE INCREASED COMMENSURATE WITH THE THROTTLE APPLICATION; HOWEVER, THE ROTOR RPM CONTINUED TO DROP. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM BUT DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO THE WATER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A TAIL WIND EXISTED WHEN THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM. THE WINDS AT THE LOCAL AIRPORT LOCATED 1.5 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 110 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 29 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 75 HOURS IN HELICOPTERS OF WHICH 40 HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER MAKE AND MODEL AND 30 HOURS WERE AS PILOT IN COMMAND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:52 HST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 269B
Tail NumberN9566F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMaui Wing and Rotor
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 23 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 12 kt, gusting 29 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data