# Accident 20020711016929A: Hughes 269A, Hamilton, AL, July 11, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 2002, 21:00 local time
- Place: Hamilton, AL
- Airport: Marion County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1192° N, 87.9997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1192&lon=-87.9997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911LH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911LH-2003-09-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020711016929A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 11, 2002, AT 2100 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUGHES HU-269-A, N911LH, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING AUTOROTATION, AT THE MARION CO-FITE AIRPORT IN HAMILTON, ALABAMA. THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MARION CO-FITE AIRPORT AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. THE PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT WHILE DEMONSTRATING AN AUTOROTATION TO A POTENTIAL STUDENT HE ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO DETERIORATE. THIS RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE TAILBOOM AND THE SKIDS. (-23) MR. PALMER ATTEMPTED AN AUTOROTATION DEMONSTRATION WHERE HE ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO GET TOO LOW WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING CAUSING MAST BUMPING WHICH CUT THE TAIL BOOM OFF CAUSING THE AIRFRAME TO BE DESTROYED.

## 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 ATL02LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA141), Jul 12, 2002: Hughes HU-269-A (N911LH), Hamilton, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of flight controls that resulted in an improper flare and a hard landing during a practice autorotation. A factor was the loss of rotor rpm.

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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