# Accident 20000719011969A: Hughes 269C, Cave Creek, AZ, July 19, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2000, 08:00 local time
- Place: Cave Creek, AZ
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8800° N, 111.9093° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8800&lon=-111.9093&mi=10
- Aircraft: N577TA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N577TA-2002-08-20) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA276) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000719011969A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE FLYING AT APPROX. 2500/2600 FT (AGL) IN THE CAVE CREEK, AZ AREA THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL APPROACH TO A RURAL OPENING IN THE DESERT NEAR SPURCROSSING AND YUCCA ROADS. HE CAME TO A HOVER APPROX. TEN(10) FT. (AGL). THE ROTOR RPM SUDDENLY DECAYED.  THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND OPENED THE THROTTLE FULLY BUT THE ROTOR DID NOT RESPOND ACCORDINGLY IN RESEPECT TO THE VERY LOW ALTITUDE.  AS THE HELICOPTER APPROACHED GROUND CONTACT THE PILOT APPLIED FULL COLLECTIVE PITCH.  THE LANDING, WAS QUITE HARD AND RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TRANSMITTED TO MANY PRIMARY STRUCTUAL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE.  HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER DID NOT ROLLOVER AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR POST-CRASH FIRE.

## 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 LAX00LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA276), Jul 19, 2000: Schweizer 269C (N577TA), Cave Creek, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to attempt a hover in atmospheric conditions and over terrain that would require maximum helicopter performance, and which would leave no viable…

## Other reports on N577TA (1)

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

- [Accident 20020513013569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020513013569A), May 13, 2002: Hughes 269C (N577TA), Phoenix, AZ, No damage. (-23) Instructor took controls and said "watch this" and then proceeded to demonstrate a maneuver he was unable to recover from. The maneuver was supposed to…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.