# Accident 19981215033389A: Hughes 269A, Cullman, AL, December 15, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 1998, 20:10 local time
- Place: Cullman, AL
- Airport: Folsom Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0595° N, 86.7608° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0595&lon=-86.7608&mi=10
- Aircraft: N271JB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N271JB-2001-10-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55 (registry code 4471002, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981215033389A

## Narrative

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

(TTY) 1967 HUGHES TH-55 HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN STUDENT PILOT TRAINING WHEN ITS ENGINE FAILED ON TAKE-OFF, AND THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND. (.4) THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER FOR THE DARK NIGHT TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, SHORTLY AFTER CLIMBING THROUGH 100 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN PHASE OF THE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT LANDING GYRATIONS, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT, A MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, AND THE HELICOPTER ALSO ROLLED OVER. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HELICOPTER WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE SUBSEQUENT POST-IMPACT EXAMINATION. THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRFRAME AND INSTALLED IN AN ENGINE TEST CELL. DURING THE FUNCTIONAL TEST RUN THE ENGINE OPERATED SMOOTHLY THROUGH ALL POWER RANGES.                                           (-23) N271JB, HUGHES 269A WAS DEPARTING THE HELIPAD IN THE VICINITY OF GEORGE C. WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FROM A HOVER AT APPROXIMATELY 20:10 HOURS LOCAL TIME. WHILE EXECUTING A FULL PERFORMANCE CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST RPM. W HEN ATTEMPTING TO LAND AND MISS A DITCH, N271JB EXECUTED A FLARE CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE TO STRIKE THE GROUND, AND TAIL BOOM SKID TO STRIKE A BARB WIRE FENCE. N271JB MADE HARD CONTACT WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE UP ATTITUDE IMPACTING THE ENGINE TO THE GROUND, AND SPLAYING THE LANDING SKIDS. ON IMPACT, THE ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD STRIKING THE TAIL ROTORDRIVE. THE FRONT SECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE, TAILBOOM AND TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. N271JB CAME TO FINAL REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES FROM DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.

## 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 ATL99LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA035), Dec 16, 1998: Hughes 269A (N271JB), Hanceville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were a dark night and terrain condition.

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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