# Incident 20070715012729I: Hughes 269C1, Dublin, CA, July 15, 2007

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 2007, 18:45 local time
- Place: Dublin, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: HIAS
- Location: 37.7162° N, 121.8962° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dublin, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7162&lon=-121.8962&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2021G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2021G-2009-10-30) (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
- Reported engine: LYC HO360C1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 414 total, 337 in this make and model, 204 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070715012729I

## Narrative

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

(-23) PIC REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ASCENDING BETWEEN 2K-3K FT AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FT. PER MINUTE RATE WHEN A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY A VIOLENT SHUDDER WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIES BY SMOKE AND OIL EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING. PILOT REDUCED ENGINE POWER TO IDLE WHICH ENDED THE SHUDDER. PIC PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION INTO AN UNOCCUPIED GRASS FIELD ADJACENT TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL. PIC COMMENTED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCH DOWN HE REAPPLIED ENGINE POWER DURING THE LANDING FLARE CUSHIONING THE TOUCH DOWN. PIC REPORTED THAT THE SHUDDER RETURNED WHEN HE REAPPLIED ENGINE POWER. PILOT AND PASSENGER REPORTED NO UNUSUAL ENGINE INDICATIONS. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP THIRD OF THE ENGINE'S #2 CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY HAD BROKE OFF FROM THE ENGINE IN AN ALMOST SYMMETRICAL HORIZONTAL SPLIT. THE PORTION OF THE CYLINDER THAT SPLIT WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM THE TOP ARE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD JUST BELOW THE SPARK PLUG AND VALVES. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED NORMAL CYLINDER PRESSURE READINGS ON 5/23/07, TSO 981 HOURS. #2 CYLINDER 76/80 PSI.

## Other reports on N2021G (1)

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

- [Incident 20040626011329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040626011329I), Jun 26, 2004: Hughes 269C1 (N2021G), Emeryville, CA. (-23) Catastrophic failure of the throttle bellcrank/throttle cable bearing, throttle control became inoperative upon bearing failure. Pilot performed a…

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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