# Accident 20010721017879A: Hughes 269C, Tracy, CA, July 21, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2001, 11:45 local time
- Place: Tracy, CA
- Airport: New Jerusalem Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6792° N, 121.2997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6792&lon=-121.2997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5015V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5015V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721017879A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 21, 2001, AT 1145 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUGHES 269C,N5015V, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER DURING AN AUTOROTATION FOR TRAINING PURPOSES, AT THE NEW JERUSALEM AIRPORT, TRACY, CALIFORNIA. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND DUAL STUDENT WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 BY ADVANCED AVIATION, STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED STOCKTON METROPOLITAN AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 1045, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS INTERVIEWED BY AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD.  HE STATED THAT HE AND HIS STUDENT, A COMMERCIAL PILOT TRAINING FOR A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTAIONS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  HE SAID THATTHEY WERE IN A STRAIGHT IN AUTOROTATION TO RUNWAY 30 AT THE NEW JERUSALEM AIRPORT.  THE DESCENT RATE WAS STABILIZED UNTIL 200 FEET, WHEN IT INCREASED SLIGHTLY.  THE STUDENT MISTIMED THE FLARE, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO LAND HARD.  HE STATED THAT THE TAIL BOOM HIT THE GROUND FIRST IN A RIGHT YAWING MOMENT.  THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM AND ALLOWING THE ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT WIND SHEAR MAY HAVE BEENA FACTOR.  HE NOTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 280 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 14 KNOTS.

## 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 LAX01LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA255), Jul 21, 2001: Hughes 269C (N5015V), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgement of the landing flare during an autorotation demonstration. Factors were shifting winds and an excessive descent rate.

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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