Hughes 269A N1020Q

Summary

On 27 April 2008 at about 18:00 local time, a Hughes 269A registered N1020Q, operated by Chandra Clanton, was involved in an accident near Lincoln, Nebraska, 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

27 April 2008 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

40.8506, -96.7556

Aircraft

Hughes 269A

Registration

N1020Q

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Chandra Clanton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08CA120

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to properly execute a steep approach, which resulted in a tail strike and a loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial rated pilot was practicing a steep approach in a single-engine helicopter, when she flared too low to the ground and the tail rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the tail rotor drive shaft failed and the pilot was unable to maintain control of the helicopter. The rear portion of the right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over on to its side. Examination of the helicopter revealed it sustained substantial damage to the mast, tail boom, and the right skid was torn from the fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.