Hughes 269C N9655F

Summary

On 30 December 2006 at about 18:30 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N9655F was involved in an accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, 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

30 December 2006 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mineral Wells, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Mineral Wells (KMWL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N9655F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mineral Wells → Mineral Wells

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07CA050

Nobody was injured.

The loss of control as result of loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 22-hour helicopter student pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter while performing a hovering maneuver during a solo training flight. The pilot added that while hovering at a skid height of 10-feet above the ground, the helicopter encountered a phenomena known as loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE). The helicopter entered an uncontrolled hard spin to the right. The pilot responded by lowering the collective and the helicopter landed hard. The helicopter sustained structural damage to the right strut, the tail rotor drive shafts, and the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot egressed from the helicopter normally and sustained no injuries. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 210 degrees at 6 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.