Hughes 269A accident near Louisburg, NC
On May 14, 2004, a Hughes 269A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Louisburg, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 14, 2004
- Place
- Louisburg, NC
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.023°N, 78.330°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040519X00615
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 14, 2004 at 1510 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 269A Helicopter, N115ES, registered to a private owner and operated by Franklin County Sheriff's Office collided with trees shortly after takeoff in Louisburg, North Carolina. The public use flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The non-certificated pilot received minor injuries, the passenger received fatal injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from a field near the Sheriff's Department in Louisburg, North Carolina on May 14, 2004 at 1214. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was an ongoing program directed at drug eradication. He stated that shortly after takeoff, he felt two vibrations and then heard a loud bang from the back of the helicopter. He stated the helicopter yawed to the right, and he entered an autorotation and maneuvered toward a small clearing in the wooded area he was over at the time. The main rotor blades struck a pine tree approximately 30 feet tall on the edge of the clearing and collided with the ground on the helicopters left side fatally injuring the Sheriff's Deputy. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of information on file with the Federal Aviation Administration Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed that the pilot did not have an airman's certificate indicating he was rated in helicopters nor could he provide evidence that he was trained in helicopters. A review of recor
Probable cause
Fatigue failure of the tailboom saddle fitting which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. Also causal was inadequate maintenance due to non-compliance to an airworthiness directive requiring inspection of the saddle fitting. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of proper certification.
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Browse: North Carolina · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
