# Accident 20021017030619A: Hughes 269C1, Hayward, CA, October 17, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2002, 17:18 local time
- Place: Hayward, CA
- Airport: Hayward Air Terminal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6594° N, 122.1225° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6594&lon=-122.1225&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61416, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61416-2003-07-15) (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 LAX03LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA010) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021017030619A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED (OAK) TO GO TO (HWD) TO PERFORM 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS AT THE REQUEST OF PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR. STUDENT HAD PROBLEMS MANAGING THE AIRSPEED, RPM AND KEEPING THE HELICOPTER IN TRIM. STUDENT INITIATED AN 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION. STUDENT STARTED A SHALLOW TURN AND PULLED THE COLLECTIVE TO MUCH DECREASING ROTOR RPM. STUDENT LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE ROTOR RMP, WHICH INCREASED A RELATIVELY HIGH AIRSPEED OUT OF TRIM. AT THIS POINT THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, BUT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND TO RECOVER. CFI INITIATED A FLARE, BUT GIVEN THE DESCENT RATE IMPACTED THE GROUND. (.19) ON OCTOBER 17, 2002, AT 1812 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C, N61416, LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER WHILE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS AT HAYWARD EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY SIERRA ACADEMY OF AERONAUTICS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 FOR THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE                                                                   FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT OAKLAND AT 1730. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER STARTED AN AUTOROTATION DURING A TURN BEGINNING THE MANEUVER APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). THE INSPECTOR FURTHER REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND THE TAIL WAS BROKEN OFF.

## 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 LAX03LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA010), Oct 18, 2002: Schweizer 269C (N61416), Hayward, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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