# Accident 20060606013019A: Hughes 269C, Griffith, IN, June 6, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 2006, 18:00 local time
- Place: Griffith, IN
- Airport: Griffith Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5197° N, 87.3994° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5197&lon=-87.3994&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54LC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54LC-2018-02-15) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI06TA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06TA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060606013019A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT AND NEW PILOT FOR THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WENT OUT TO PRACTICE WITH THIS AIRCRAFT. PILOT STARTED TO PRACTICE AN AUTOROTATION, WHICH TURNED INTO A REAL AUTOROTATION WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. SUFFICIENT ENERGY WAS NOT MAINTAINED IN THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH FOR THE ROTOR BLADES TO SEVER THE TAIL BOOM.

## 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 CHI06TA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06TA148), Jun 6, 2006: Schweizer 269C (N54LC), Schererville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper autorotation following an actual loss of engine power during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor associated with the accident was the loss of…

## Other reports on N54LC (1)

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

- [Accident 20080613834339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080613834339A), Jun 13, 2008: Hughes 269C (N54LC), Cedar Valley, UT, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the ground; high temperature and the high airport elevation along with the airman's lack of experience in…

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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