# Accident 20070903021729A: Hughes 269C, Ramona, CA, September 3, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2007, 10:15 local time
- Place: Ramona, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0392° N, 116.9150° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0392&lon=-116.9150&mi=10
- Aircraft: N58332, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58332-2015-05-15) (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: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,414 total, 340 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07CA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA267) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070903021729A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2007, A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS TRAINING A PRIVATE PILOT RATED HELICOPTER PILOT IN PREPARATION FOR A COMMERCIAL ROTORCRAFT CERTIFICATE. WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE PROCEDURE FOR A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE STOPPAGE AS POWER WAS REDUCED TO INITIATE AN AUTOROTATION FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET. THE SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT AND HARD LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT INJURY TO THE PILOTS. INVESTIGATION HAS DETERMINED THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STOPPAGE TO HAVE BEEN ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE APPROACHING 7000 FEET. THE MODEL 269C HELICOPTER FLIGHT MANUAL CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING WARNING: AVOID THROTTLE CHOPS TO FULL IDLE AT ALTITUDES ABOVE 7000 FEET, TO AVOID POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE STOPPAGE. FOLLOWING RECOVERY OF THE HELICOPTER, THE ENGINE STARTED AND IDLED NORMALLY.

## 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 LAX07CA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA267), Sep 3, 2007: Hughes 269C (N58332), Ramona, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N58332 (3)

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

- [Accident 19880315005359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880315005359A), Mar 15, 1988: Hughes 269C (N58332), Tomball, TX, Substantial damage. Lost control of helicopter after liftoff from a dolly. Helicopter rolled on its side due to dynamic rollover effect
- [Incident 19870509022729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870509022729I), May 9, 1987: Hughes 269C (N58332), Spring, TX, Minor damage. The engine lost power on approach and the aircraft landed hard. Throttle cable was found stripped from engine servo
- [Incident 19860802060349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860802060349I), Aug 2, 1986: Hughes 269C (N58332), Spring, TX, Minor damage. Forced landing after vibration. Bearing on forward drive pulley failed.

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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