# Accident 20031026026899A: Hughes 269C, Hillsboro, OR, October 26, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 26, 2003, 12:15 local time
- Place: Hillsboro, OR
- Airport: Starks Twin Oaks Airpark Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.4239° N, 122.9411° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4239&lon=-122.9411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7452F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7452F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031026026899A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL, WHILE HOVER TAXIING, THE INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION, ON TOUCHDOWN, THE SKIDS SANK INTO THE SOFT SURFACE CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROCK FORWARD UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED OVER FORWARD TO REST INVERTED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## 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 SEA04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA011), Oct 26, 2003: Hughes 269C (N7452F), Hillsboro, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a practice auto rotation landing. A contributing factor was the soft terrain.

## Other reports on N7452F (2)

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

- [Incident 20230205001859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230205001859I), Feb 5, 2023: Hughes 269C (N7452F), Yakima, WA, Minor damage. Aircraft struck a wire during low flight over the naches river nw of Yakima, WA.
- [Incident 19830917065879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830917065879I), Sep 17, 1983: Hughes 269C (N7452F), Sherwood, OR, Substantial damage. Running engine for the purpose of balancing trail rotor. Left helicopter. Engine speeded up. Helicopter destroyed.

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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