No fatalities

23 Aug 2008: Hughes 269A — American Air Adventures, Inc. — Bremen, OH

Bremen, OH, United States

On 23 Aug 2008, a Hughes 269A operated by American Air Adventures, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Bremen, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient main rotor speed during the quick-stop maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the drainage ditch. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter practicing a quick-stop maneuver landed hard, bounced off the runway, and rolled into a drainage ditch. The pilot reported low main rotor speed during the flare.

Accident Overview

A helicopter accident occurred while the pilot was practicing a quick-stop maneuver. The pilot reported that the main rotor speed was too low as he flared for landing. The helicopter landed hard, then bounced off the right side of the runway before rolling over in a drainage ditch nearby.

Pilot Information

The pilot stated that his most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical examination was completed in 2001, and his most recent flight review was completed in 1999. No other pilot qualifications or experience details were provided.

Sequence of Events

According to the pilot's account, the accident sequence began during the quick-stop practice. As the helicopter approached the landing area, the pilot initiated the flare but noted that the main rotor speed was insufficient. This resulted in a hard landing. The helicopter then bounced, veered to the right side of the runway, and eventually rolled onto its side in a drainage ditch.

Post-Accident Details

The accident occurred on a runway with an adjacent drainage ditch. Specific damage to the helicopter was not described in the source. No injuries were reported, and the pilot was able to provide a statement regarding the events leading up to the accident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Prop/rotor parameters — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome