N90570

Substantial
None

HUGHES 269CS/N: 1180736

Accident Details

Date
Monday, March 25, 2013
NTSB Number
WPR13CA160
Location
Rialto, CA
Event ID
20130325X75053
Coordinates
34.129165, -117.401390
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering in a hover.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N90570
Make
HUGHES
Serial Number
1180736
Model / ICAO
269C

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
KINZIE INDUSTRIES INC
Address
PO BOX 450
Status
Deregistered
City
ERIE
State / Zip Code
CO 80516-0450
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the student pilot, he reported that while in a hover prior to departure, he attempted a 360-degree right pedal turn. About 180 degrees into the turn, the rotation speed started to increase. The pilot thought his reaction to the increased rotation speed was not as decisive as it should have been, which resulted in the helicopter departing controlled flight. The pilot stated that he did not press on the left pedal; instead he released pressure on the right pedal. The helicopter came to rest upright after impacting the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft and boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13CA160