Hughes 269B N1093D

Summary

On 10 November 2003 at about 22:00 local time, a Hughes 269B registered N1093D was involved in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 November 2003 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

38.2667, -85.7333

Aircraft

Hughes 269B

Registration

N1093D

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rising Sun → Louisville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA030

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to allow the passenger to manipulate the aircraft flight controls, his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the river, and his inadequate remedial action. A related factor was the low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted a river. The passenger in the helicopter stated to law enforcement officers that she was at the controls of the helicopter at the time of the accident when something went wrong, and the helicopter crashed into the water. The pilot stated that he was attempting to take pictures and while he was moving the helicopter and turning away from the wind he lost power due to lack of airspeed and fell into the river. The pilot told the officer that he had about 160 hours of flight time. The pilot stated that he was at the controls and that the passenger had been at the controls earlier, but the passenger was not at the controls at the time of the accident. Two witnesses reported that the helicopter came over a trees and then dropped down toward the water, and subsequently impacted the water. The witnesses reported that the helicopter sounded normal and no unusual sounds were heard. No pre-impact defects were found with respect to the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.