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CHI06CA266

2006-09-16 · Port Clinton, Ohio, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N530FF

Make / Model
HUGHES HELICOPTERS INC 369FF
Year of manufacture
1987 · 19 years old at event
Engine
ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30 (650 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20150712
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6B0F0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot not maintaining clearance from the water during the survey flight. A factor was the low altitude the survey flight was flown at.

Factual narrative

The experimental research and developmental helicopter's left boom impacted water during an offshore low level survey flight. The pilot's accident report stated, "While flying an Easterly course line at approximately 25 knots over calm surface conditions, a course correction to the left was initiated with 2 degrees of left bank angle. This resulted in the left boom tip touching the surface of the water. The nose of the helicopter pitched down causing the main rotor blades to strike the water. The helicopter became inverted, sinking immediately. The elapsed time between the boom tip contacting the water and the helicopter becoming inverted was approximately three seconds." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the survey flight. The experimental research and developmental helicopter's left boom impacted water during an offshore low level survey flight. The pilot's accident report stated, "While flying an easterly course line at approximately 25 knots over calm surface conditions, a course correction to the left was initiated with 2 degrees of left bank angle. This resulted in the left boom tip touching the surface of the water. The nose of the helicopter pitched down causing the main rotor blades to strike the water. The helicopter became inverted, sinking immediately. The elapsed time between the boom tip contacting the water and the helicopter becoming inverted was approximately three seconds." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the survey flight. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_CHI06CA266.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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