N8926F

On July 15, 1999, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a skid equipped Hughes 269A helicopter, N8926F, sustained substantial damage during landing atop a 3,400 feet msl mountain, about 12 miles southwest of Juneau, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The helicopter is owned and operated by Color-Vue Inc., Juneau, Alaska. The commercial pilot, and the one passenger aboard, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated about 1245 from Juneau.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 16, the pilot reported that the accident helicopter was being utilized to transport a service technician to a remote radio repeater site. He said that he made a northerly approach to the mountain top. He said that as he approached his intended landing site, he increased collective pitch while slowing his approach airspeed, and the rotor rpm began to decay. The pilot stated that he was forced to hover over, and eventually touchdown on, an area of uneven terrain, about thirty feet short and downhill from his intended landing site. He said, in part: "I was able to keep the toes of the skids on the uphill slope while trying to get my rpm back up. I rolled the throttle on and lowered the collective as much as I dared." He said that in an attempt to reposition the helicopter, he increased collective pitch and applied left pedal input. The left skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom.

The pilot reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of clear skies, visibility unlimited, gusty winds from the southeast at 10 to 15 knots, and temperature about 70 degrees F.