# Accident 19990430004409A: Hughes 269C1, Concord, CA, April 30, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 30, 1999, 09:08 local time
- Place: Concord, CA
- Airport: Buchanan Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9999° N, 122.0306° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9999&lon=-122.0306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6148V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6148V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C-1 (registry code 8059504, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HO-360 series (registry code 41513, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990430004409A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING AUTO ROTATIONS IN A SCHWEIZER 269-C1 HELICOPTER WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE RWY. (-23) DURING THIS DUAL FLIGHT THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS. DURING THE FIRST 4, THE STUDENT WAS FLARING TOO HIGH.DURING THE 5TH AUTOROTAION THEN INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT, "WE'RE GONNA DO THIS ONE TOGETHER." SOME CONFUSION EXISTED BETWEEN THE STUDENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR ON WHO WAS GOING TO INITIATE THE FLARE. THE RESULTS WERE THAT THE FLARE WAS STARTED TOO LOW TO THE RUNWAY. THE STRINGER AND TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE RUNWAY, TAIL BOOM BROKE OFF, AND SKIDS SPREAD.

## 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 LAX99LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA166), Apr 30, 1999: Schweizer 269C-1 (N6148V), Concord, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate supervision of the student pilot by the flight instructor during the practice autorotation, which resulted in a delayed flare and the tail rotor contacting the ground. A factor was a…

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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