Hughes 369D N18KJ

Summary

On 5 July 1991 at about 13:30 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N18KJ, operated by Nova Group, Inc, was involved in an accident near Napa, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 1991 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Napa, California, United States

Coordinates

38.5494, -122.1504

Aircraft

Hughes 369D

Registration

N18KJ

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Nova Group, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Petaluma → Napa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA289

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT DECISION TO FLY IN THE BELOW VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS MISJUDGED WEATHER EVALUATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 70-HOUR STUDENT HELICOPTER PILOT HELD AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE (AIRPLANES). THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A BUSINESS FLIGHT BETWEEN HIS HOME AND HIS OFFICE. AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF THE PILOT WAS AWARE THERE WAS A 500 FOOT CEILING AND THE VISIBILITY WAS ONE MILE. AFTER FLYING FOR FIVE MINUTES THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED DECREASING VISIBILITY (1/16 MILE) AND GROUND FOG. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE AND COLLIDED WITH THE UNDERLYING TERRAIN. THE ACCIDENT PILOT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HAD AUTHORIZED THE PILOT TO ONLY FLY THE HELICOPTER IN VFR CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.