Hughes 269 N9567F

Summary

On 25 September 2015 at about 14:40 local time, a Hughes 269 registered N9567F, operated by Rentoumis Michael G, was involved in an accident near Eustis, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 September 2015 at 14:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Eustis, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.8350, -81.5817

Aircraft

Hughes 269

Registration

N9567F

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1972

Engines

1

Operator

Rentoumis Michael G

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leesburg → Eustis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA376

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control as he slowed the helicopter during a landing approach, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control due to a 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 commercial pilot was flying the helicopter about 600 ft above ground level and at a speed of 60 to 70 mph and began descending and slowing the helicopter as it approached a friend's home, where he planned to land. The right-seat passenger, who was a student pilot, reported that the helicopter got "low and slow" during the approach and began "violently spinning to the right." The student pilot also reported that the wind was light and variable and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the flight. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly. A cell phone video provided by a witness confirmed the student's report that the helicopter was at a low altitude and airspeed when it yawed right, then spun right, and descended to ground impact. The engine could be heard running throughout the accident sequence. It is likely that, during the landing approach, the helicopter's airspeed dropped below effective translational lift, and when the pilot added power to compensate, the helicopter yawed right. The pilot was unable to stop the yaw and lost control of the helicopter due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.