NTSB Factual Report

On November 10, 2003, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Hughes 269B helicopter, N1093D, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted into the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Rising Sun, Indiana, at an undetermined time. The Bowman Field Airport, Louisville, Kentucky, was the intended destination.

According to law enforcement records, the passenger was interviewed at the accident scene. During the interview, the passenger identified herself by two false names before officers learned her real name. The passenger told the officers that she was on her way from the Belterra Casino and that she was allowed by the pilot to fly the helicopter. The officer reported that she appeared to have an odor of alcohol on her breath, slurred speech, and flushed skin. In a later interview at the hospital, the passenger reported to officers that she and the pilot had departed from Bowman Field Airport, Louisville, Kentucky, and had flown to the Belterra Casino, Rising Sun, Indiana, and were going to return to Bowman Field. She told officers that she was trying to learn how to fly the helicopter and was handling the controls when something went wrong, and the helicopter crashed into the water.

According to law enforcement records, the pilot was interviewed at the hospital. He told officers that he had departed the Belterra Casino and was attempting to take pictures, and while he was moving the helicopter and turning away from the wind, he lost power due to lack of airspeed and fell into the river. The pilot told the officer that he had about 160 hours of flight time. The pilot stated that he was at the controls and that the passenger had been at the controls earlier, but the passenger was not at the controls at the time of the accident.

There were two witnesses that were fishing in a boat near where the helicopter impacted the water. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector interviewed the witnesses. The first witness reported that the helicopter came in low over the trees and then dropped down toward the water. He reported that the helicopter sounded "normal" prior to the accident with no sounds of backfiring. He stated that it sounded like other helicopters he had heard. This witness reported that when the helicopter first cleared the trees, it looked normal, like it was going to land. Then, just before it hit the water, it began "swaying back and forth", like it was trying to turn. He reported that the helicopter hit the water about 20 to 30 degrees from level.

The second witness reported that the helicopter came over the trees from the south and angled down toward the water. He reported that the helicopter hit the water about 15 to 20 feet from the Indiana shore. He reported that it nosed in almost straight at the shore and the skids hit the water first. The witness reported that it didn't sound as if anything was wrong with the helicopter. He did state, however, that he doesn't really know what "normal" is for a small helicopter like the accident helicopter.

The pilot, responding to a request for submission of a National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, asserted his rights under the 5th amendment of the United States Constitution.

According to FAA records, the passenger did not have a pilot or student pilot certificate. FAA records also show that the pilot did not hold a flight instructor certificate.

A postaccident examination of the helicopter by FAA inspectors failed to reveal any defects that could be determined to have existed prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper in-flight decision to allow the passenger to manipulate the aircraft flight controls, his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the river, and his inadequate remedial action. A related factor was the low altitude.