On September 9, 1983, a Hughes 269C (registration N1103K) was involved in an aviation accident near Philadelphia, PA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a training flight, a helicopter collided with a steel drainage culvert hidden in grass, causing a skid to break off and the aircraft to roll over.
Accident Overview
A helicopter participating in an instructional flight experienced an accident during a simulated high altitude running takeoff. The aircraft was operating from an area to the right of a hard surface runway. The takeoff area was 200 feet wide, with drainage culverts 2 feet wide spaced 500 feet apart in the center. The grass in the area was approximately 2 inches above the lip of the drains.
Collision Sequence
The helicopter's skid struck a steel drainage culvert that was hidden in the grass. The culvert extended about 3-4 inches above ground level. The impact broke off approximately 3 feet of the skid, causing the helicopter to roll over onto its back.
Damage
The helicopter sustained damage from the rollover, including the broken skid.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…