Hughes 269C N9597F

Summary

On 28 March 1992 at about 21:50 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N9597F, operated by Mojave Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Hesperia, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 March 1992 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hesperia, California, United States

Coordinates

34.3605, -117.3209

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N9597F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Mojave Aviation Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92FA154

1 person died.

A FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE TRAINING FLIGHT AND A DELAY IN CORRECTING A LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND A PRIVATE PILOT/COMMERCIAL STUDENT, WERE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT IN A HELICOPTER, TO PRACTICE PINNACLE APPROACHES, LANDINGS, AND TAKEOFFS. THE AREA OF LANDING WAS LOCATED AT ABOUT 3,600 FEET MSL, NEAR THE TOP OF A STEEP MOUNTAIN RIDGE. TWO APPROACHES TO THE PINNACLE LANDING ZONE RESULTED IN ONE GO-AROUND, AND ONE LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT TENDED TO ALLOW THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DROOP WHEN ADDING POWER TO TERMINATE THE LANDING APPROACH. ON THE THIRD APPROACH, THE RPM AGAIN STARTED TO DECREASE. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE THROTTLE SETTING AND DECREASE COLLECTIVE PITCH TO RECOVER FROM THE LOW ROTOR RPM CONDITION. MAIN ROTOR RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE EDGE OF THE RIDGE. THE HELICOPTER SLID BACKWARDS OVER THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND BEGAN TO BREAK APART, TUMBLING 600 FEET DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. A POST CRASH FIRE ERUPTED DURING THE BREAK-UP SEQUENCE. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS EJECTED FROM HELICOPTER. THE STUDENT REMAINED IN THE WRECKAGE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE POST ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.