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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 1, 1982 · Hughes 269C · N8982F

Louisville, KY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 1, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Louisville, KY
Aircraft
Hughes 269C
Tail Number
N8982F
Operator
Helicopter
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82DA258

The pilot received a weather briefing before taking off on an aerial traffic patrol for a local radio station. He was issued a special VFR clearance to follow a pre-established route. However, after departing, he encountered thunderstorm activity. He returned to the departure airport and hovered until the thunderstorm activity subsided. After about 30 minutes, the pilot departed again, but was unable to conduct the flight as planned. With the weather deteriorating, he received clearance to another airport. When he was about one mile from the airport, the visibility was reported as 1/2 mile. He reported that when he was about 100 ft AGL, he turned northeast into the wind to get close to the boundary road and fence and to get visual references. Also, he stated that the visibility through the bubble was distorted by the heavy downpour and bubble fog. While attempting a hover landing, he touched down, tail low, moving rearward. The rear part of the skids and the tail rotor hit the ground and control was lost.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE TAKING OFF ON AN AERIAL TRAFFIC PATROL FOR A LOCAL RADIO STATION. HE WAS ISSUED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO FOLLOW A PRE-ESTABLISHED ROUTE. HOWEVER, AFTER DEPARTING, HE ENCOUNTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. HE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND HOVERED UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SUBSIDED. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE PILOT DEPARTED AGAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT AS PLANNED. WITH THE WEATHER DETERIORATING, HE RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT, THE VISIBILITY WAS REPORT AS 1/2 MILE. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 100 FT AGL, HE TURNED NORTHEAST INTO THE WIND TO GET CLOSE TO THE BOUNDRY ROAD AND FENCE AND TO GET VISUAL REFERENCES. ALSO, HE STATED THAT THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE BUBBLE WAS DISTORTED BY THE HEAVY DOWNPOUR AND BUBBLE FOG. WHILE ATTEMPTING A HOVER LANDING, HE TOUCHED DOWN, TAIL LOW, MOVING REARWARD. THE REAR PART OF THE SKIDS AND THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND AND CONTROL WAS LOST.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 EDT
Nearest AirportStandiford Field (0nm N)
Runway19
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 269C
Tail NumberN8982F
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHelicopter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-D1A · Reciprocating · 225
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 17 kt
CeilingBroken clouds 1200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point16 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data