HUGHES 269B
Hartford, AL — September 19, 2015
Event Information
| Date | September 19, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA15CA364 |
| Event ID | 20150921X21024 |
| Location | Hartford, AL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 31.12944, -85.65389 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | HUGHES |
| Model | 269B |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
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.
Full Narrative
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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.