# Accident 19970714018389A: Hughes 269B, Paducah, KY, July 14, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 1997, 18:00 local time
- Place: Paducah, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0106° N, 88.5802° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0106&lon=-88.5802&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9398F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9398F-2013-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269B (registry code 4470502, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,848 total, 15 in this make and model, 134 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970714018389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FAIRING ON WORN SKID FITTINGS CAME LOOSED ON TAKEOFF. BLOCKED ENGINE AIRE INTAKE. AUTOROTATED. ROTOR RPM DECAYED. (-23) WHILE PREPARING FOR A CHECK RIDE, STUDENT WAS PRACTICING AUTO ROTATIONS WITH AN INSTRUCTOR. ON THE DOWN WIND APPROACH THE ENG. QUIT AT 300' AGL. INSTRUCTOR TOOK COMMAND AND AUTOROTATED INTO A FARM FIELD. AIRCRAFT CONTACTED GROUND VERY HARD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC97LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA138), Jul 14, 1997: Hughes 269B (N9398F), Paducah, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to identify and correct the worn holes on the lower fuselage fairing and the failure of the flight instructor to maintain main rotor RPM during the autorotative…

## Other reports on N9398F (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19740227003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740227003689A), Feb 27, 1974: Hughes 269B (N9398F), Lihue, HI, Substantial damage. Ditch defoliation. Watching grnd worker.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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