# Accident 19980520014899A: Hughes 269C, San Angelo, TX, May 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 1998, 17:30 local time
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.2796° N, 100.4100° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2796&lon=-100.4100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N41TH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41TH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,034 total, 5 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980520014899A

## Narrative

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

DURING TERMINAITON OF SIMULATED AUTOROTAITON TAIL BOOM SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED. AT ATTACH BOLT HOLE. DAMAGED ROTORS. (.4)DURING A DEMONSTRATION OF AN AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE AUTOROTATION, AFTER COMPLETING A FLARE, HE ADDED 'MAX' ALLOWABLE POWER TO INITIATE A POWER RECOVERY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER LANDED WITH A SLIGHT YAW.  THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT DURING THE AUTOROTATION THE PILOT STATED THAT 'THE SPOT WE WOULD LAND WAS VISIBLE BASICALLY RIGHT ABOVE THE PEDALS.'  THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 'FIRM,' APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES FROM THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.  EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THAT THE TAILBOOM FORWARD ATTACHMENT FITTING WAS FRACTURED.  BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE ATTACHED TO THE HUB AND FORK; HOWEVER, ONE BLADE WAS FOUND FRACTURED AND SEPARATED IN THE SPAR ROOT AREA AT THE END OF THE HUB SPINDLE, AND THERE WAS A DENT IN THE LEADING EDGE NEAR THE TIP.  THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND TWISTED AND DISENGAGED FROM THE UPPER PULLEY AFT DRIVE ADAPTER.  EXAMINATION OF THE TAILBOOM FORWARD ATTACHMENT FITTING, P/N:269A2323, AND ASSOCIATED PARTS                                  FOUND THAT THE FRACTURE SURFACE WAS 'CONSISTENT WITH AN OVERSTRESS FAILURE.' THERE WERE 'NO SIGNS OF PREEXISTING CRACKS FOUND.'                      (-23) ON MAY 20, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 17:30 LOCAL TIME, A SCHWEIZER MODEL 269C HELICOPTER, N41TH, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A SIMULATED AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD APROXIMATELY SIX MILES WEST OF SAN ANGELO, MATHIS FIELD. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TAIL BOOM FORWARD FITTING FAILED DURING RECOVERYFROM THE AUTOROTATION BEFORE THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND.

## 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 FTW98LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA279), May 20, 1998: Schweizer 269C (N41TH), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper touchdown executed by the flight instructor, which resulted in the tail rotor impacting the ground.

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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