# Accident 20030825020949A: Hughes 269C, Columbia, CA, August 25, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 2003, 12:00 local time
- Place: Columbia, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.9056° N, 120.4931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9056&lon=-120.4931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N58363, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58363) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 880 total, 60 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA264) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030825020949A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, STEVE DUNBAR ACTING AS THE CFI. THE PRIVATE HELICOPTER RATED PILOT WAS ACTING AS PIC AND WAS PERFORMING A POWER OFF AUTOROTATION. THE PIC FLARED LATE AND LOW TO THE GROUND CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO HIT THE GROUND. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND TOOK THE CONTROLS AND MADE A SAFE LANDING. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTERS TAIL ROTOR BLADES. (-23 AMENDMENT) THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTERS TAIL ROTOR BLADES.

## 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 LAX03CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA264), Aug 25, 2003: Hughes 269C (N58363), Columbia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's improper execution of the autorotation. Also causal, was the CFI's delayed remedial action and supervision of the flight.

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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