Hughes TH-55A accident near West Lafayette, Indiana, November 18, 2003
On November 18, 2003 at about 2:05 am local time, a Hughes TH-55A (helicopter), registered N9240D, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Lafayette, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fractured cluster fitting resulting in a loss of directional control during initial climb and the improper repair of cluster fitting by unknown personnel. The night conditions were a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2003 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- West Lafayette, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes TH-55A · all TH-55As on the register
- Registration
- N9240D · registry record · serial 67-15414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter received substantial damage on impact with terrain. The pilot reported he lost directional control and heard a "pop" during climb after takeoff. He then regained directional control and executed an autorotation in night meteorological conditions. Examination of the tail boom right cluster fitting by National Transportation Safety Board metallurgists revealed features consistent with an overload fracture in addition to a preexisting crack. The fracture area contained weld material in the heat treated structure. According to the manufacturer, weld repairs were not allowed in this area. A review of maintenance logs did not reveal any entries pertaining to the welding of the cluster fitting.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,560 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,460 as pilot in command; 35 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,305.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 2003; 47.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO360-BIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT West Lafayette IN at 2:05 am
- Destination: LAF Purdue Airport IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft; a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from LAF, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI04LA032.