Hughes 500C N9177F

Summary

On 24 April 2000 at about 22:30 local time, a Hughes 500C registered N9177F was involved in an accident near Salina, Kansas, United States. 2 people were 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

24 April 2000 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Salina, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

38.8094, -97.6099

Aircraft

Hughes 500C

Registration

N9177F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI00LA121

Nobody was injured.

the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the autorotation performed by the pilot. The unfavorable wind was a contributing factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported losing directional control while maneuvering backwards and turning into the prevailing wind, which he reported as a "little gusty". Recorded weather reported a wind speed of 11 knots 12 nm east of the accident site. The pilot then performed a hovering autorotation during which the helicopter contacted the terrain with a left drift. The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook describes the characteristics associated with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness resulting from certain combinations of wind azimuth and helicopter airspeeds. Metallurgical examination of the helicopter's tail rotor assembly revealed no preexisting anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.