# Accident 20020715015649A: Hughes 269C1, Clayton, CA, July 15, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 2002, 15:45 local time
- Place: Clayton, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9897° N, 122.0569° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9897&lon=-122.0569&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20256, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20256-2013-10-29) (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 LAX02LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020715015649A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT RUSSEL REPORTED IN AN INTERVIEW THE FOLLOWING EVENTS RESULTING IN THE FORCED EMERGENCY LANDING. ON THE DAY AND TIME REFERENCED, MR. RUSSEL AS INSTRUCTOR, AND STUDENT FUNKE OPERATING THE HELICOPTER, WERE ENROUTE TO THE TRAINING AREA EAST OF MOUNT DIABLO KNOWN AS "THE FLATS." WHILE CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 KNOTS AND 4,200 FT. ALTITUDE, INSTRUCTOR RUSSEL REPORTS A "TWO STAGE" VIBRATION OCCURRED. IN THE FIRST STAGE, LASTING A "SPLIT SECOND", THERE OCCURRED A SUBTLE VIBRATION, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A SECOND STAGE VIBRATION OF A "HEAVY AND VIOLENT" NATURE. THE SECOND VIBRATIONS WERE FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF THE LEFT DOOR OF THE HELICOPTER. MR. RUSSELL IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. AT THE ONSET OF THE HEAVY VIBRATIONS, MR. RUSSEL ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION MODE. HE SOUGHT A LANDING SITE, AND EXECUTING AN APPROXIMATELY 10 DEGREE LEFT TURN, DESCENDED TO EARTH IN WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A NORMAL AUTOROTATION. AT NO TIME WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER EXPERIENCED. PILOT RUSSEL EXECUTED SHUT-DOWN PROCEDURES UPON LANDING, AND EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITH NO INJURIES TO HIMSELF OR HIS STUDENT PILOT.

## 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 LAX02LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA228), Jul 15, 2002: Schweizer 269C-1 (N20256), Concord, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The main rotor mast support tube failure as a result of fatigue.

## Other reports on N20256 (1)

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

- [Incident 20000522017739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000522017739I), May 22, 2000: Hughes 269C1 (N20256), Oakland, CA. (-23)[privacy data omitted] was doing an instruction flight with [privacy data omitted]. They did two take off and landings before engine failed. There was no…

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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