# Accident 20020816022239A: Hughes 269C, Haleyville, AL, August 16, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2002, 21:10 local time
- Place: Haleyville, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2261° N, 87.6225° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2261&lon=-87.6225&mi=10
- Aircraft: N269FW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N269FW-2017-02-28) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020816022239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON AUGUST 16, 200, ABOUT 2110 CDT, A SCHWEIZER 269C, N269FW, REGISTERED TO FREEDOM FLIGHT LLC, DEPARTED TUSCALOOSA ALABAMA ENROUTE TO RUSSELLVILLE ALABAMA. WHILE ENROUTE TO RUSSELLVILLE THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A POWERLINE CLEARING. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS TRANSFERRED TO UAB HOSPITAL, LOCATED IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA FOR BACK INJURIES. (.19) ON AUGUST 16, 2002, ABOUT 2110 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C, N269FW, REGISTERED TO FREEDOM FLIGHT LLC, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, EXPERIENCED A REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN THE VICINITY OF HALEYVILLE, ALABAMA, AND CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING. VFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA, AT 2100. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WIFE, HER HUSBAND INITIALLY DEPARTED FROM DEMOPOLIS, ALABAMA, VFR EN ROUTE TO RUSSELLVILLE, ALABAMA. HE ENCOUNTERED SOME WEATHER AND LANDED AT TUSCALOOSA. AFTER THE WEATHER PASSED, HE DEPARTED TUSCALOOSA EN ROUTE TO RUSSELLV                        ILLE. HER HUSBAND TOLD HER THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,000 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. HE HAD JUST PASSED HALEYVILLE, ALABAMA, AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS IT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION TOWARDS SOME LIGHT POLES AND TREES. HE CLEARED THE TREES AND THE WIRES AND LANDED IN A VERTICAL DESCENT HARD. HE EXITED THE HELICOPTER AND WAS PICKED UP BY A LOCAL RESIDENT WHO TRANSPORTED HIM TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND A DEPUTY WENT TO THE CRASH SCENE. THE HELICOPTER SKIDS WERE SPREAD, THE COCKPIT GLASS WAS BROKEN, ONE ROTOR BLADE WAS SPLIT ACROSS THE MID SPAN, AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS BENT DOWNWARD. THE LEFT PILOT SEAT SUSTAINED DOWNWARD COMPRESSION.

## 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 ATL02LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA159), Aug 17, 2002: Schweizer 300C (N269FW), Haleyville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to perform an adequate inspection of loose intake components, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent emergency descent, forced landing, and…

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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