N141LL

Substantial
Minor

HUGHES 269BS/N: 670318

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, September 19, 2015
NTSB Number
ERA15CA364
Location
Hartford, AL
Event ID
20150921X21024
Coordinates
31.129444, -85.653892
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
2
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, and his subsequent failure to attain adequate altitude during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a wire fence.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N141LL
Make
HUGHES
Serial Number
670318
Year Built
1967
Model / ICAO
269B

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SMITH SUZANNE
Address
774 WYNNWOOD CIR
Status
Deregistered
City
MIDLAND CITY
State / Zip Code
AL 36350-3235
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot of the helicopter was taking off from a field at farm, and attempted to clear a driveway, when the left skid toe caught on the top of a wire fence. The pilot applied aft cyclic in an attempt to climb; however, the helicopter rolled to the left and impacted the ground. The main rotor, tail rotor, and airframe sustained substantial damage. Subsequent examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions which would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported about 3,900 hours of total flight experience in rotorcraft, which included 160 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. He further reported that the accident could have been prevented had he conducted a walk around of the takeoff area to better evaluate prospective hazards.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA15CA364