# Accident 20030528010329A: Hughes 269C, Denver, CO, May 28, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 2003, 09:05 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Front Range Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7836° N, 104.5350° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7836&lon=-104.5350&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9643F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9643F-2018-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-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
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN03FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030528010329A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 28, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 A HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED FLYING A PATTERN THAT A.M. IN WHAT WAS TERMED TRAINING FOR A "HELICOPTER COMMERCIAL RATING." BASED ON WITNESS MARKS ON TAXIWAY AND DAMAGE INCURRED BY THE TAIL ROTOR, IT APPEARS THAT THE PILOT LOST CONTROL IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE ABOVE THE TAXIWAY HEADED IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. THE TAIL ROTOR AND GEARBOX WERE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

## 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 DEN03FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA090), May 28, 2003: Hughes 269C (N9643F), Watkins, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: failure of both pilots to initiate a timely recovery from a practice autorotation. A contributing factor was the instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.

## Other reports on N9643F (1)

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

- [Accident 19800831057799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800831057799A), Aug 31, 1980: Hughes 269C (N9643F), Pilot Rock, OR, Substantial damage. Engine quit made emergency landing, rolled backwards on impact. Found sleeping bag, tied on outside caught v belts.

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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