HUGHES 269
San Antonio, TX — March 14, 2018
Event Information
| Date | March 14, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA168 |
| Event ID | 20180319X42625 |
| Location | San Antonio, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 29.33694, -98.47111 |
| Airport | STINSON MUNI |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | HUGHES |
| Model | 269 |
| 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 decision to relinquish the helicopter flight controls to a non-rated passenger during a 3 ft hover.
Full Narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that he allowed his non-rated passenger to "try his hovering skills" at 3ft AGL. The pilot told the passenger, "You have the aircraft" and the pilot removed his hands from the flight controls. The passenger pushed the cyclic to its forward limit, and the helicopter impacted the ground.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor and tail rotor drive systems, and the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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.