The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida
Location: Fort White, Florida
Accident Number: ERA22LA180
Date and Time: April 2, 2022, 10:30 Local
Registration: N7057L
Aircraft: Hughes 269A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The weather when the non-instrument-rated helicopter pilot initiated the flight included a ceiling of 250 ft mean sea level (msl) and visibility of ½ mile, which corresponded to instrument meteorological conditions. After flying for 15 minutes, the helicopter “entered a wall of fog.” The pilot attempted to turn the helicopter around and return to an area of better visibility; however, the tail rotor impacted trees. The pilot did not realize that the helicopter was in a right turn and reduced engine power. The helicopter descended to ground in a bank, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail-boom, and rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. According to the helicopter owner’s maintenance and flight manual, “instrument flight [is] prohibited.”
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to fly a visual flight rules only helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
Findings
Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot
Aircraft Instrument flight capability - Related operating info
Environmental issues Below VFR minima - Effect on operation
Personnel issues Total instrument experience - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Other weather encounter
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 75,Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: BasicMed With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 25, 2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Hughes
Registration: N7057L
Model/Series: 269A
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 1281052
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: September 1, 2021 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 6.3 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 13948.2 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: HIO-360-B1A
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 180 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument (IMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: GNV,134 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 29 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 09:35 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 129°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 0.25 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Indefinite (V V) / 200 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 100°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - None - Fog
Departure Point: Lake City, FL (15FL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Trenton, FL
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 10:15 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 29.992609,-82.709709(est)
Location: Fort White, FL
Accident Number: ERA22LA180
Date and Time: April 2, 2022, 10:29 Local
Registration: N7057L
Aircraft: Hughes 269A
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Hughes
Registration: N7057L
Model/Series: 269A
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: IMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: GNV,134 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 29 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C /18°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots / , 100°
Lowest Ceiling: IndefiniteVV / 200 ft AGL
Visibility: 0.25 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Unknown
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 29.992609,-82.709709 (est)
Rotorcraft crashed in a field for unknown reasons.
Date: 02-APR-22
Time: 14:29:00Z
Regis#: N7057L
Aircraft Make: HUGHES
Aircraft Model: 269
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: FORT WHITE
State: FLORIDA
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the area of State Road 47 and Sedgefield Lane after someone reported the helicopter crash.
They found the helicopter crashed near the roadway.
Deputies were able to render aid to the two people inside, who had minor injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration will be conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.
“We are thankful both occupants of the helicopter only sustained minor injuries and no one else was injured,” deputies wrote in a social media post.
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