# Accident 20071108826399A: Hughes 269C, Baker City, OR, November 8, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 8, 2007, 13:00 local time
- Place: Baker City, OR
- Airport: Baker City Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.8592° N, 117.8064° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8592&lon=-117.8064&mi=10
- Aircraft: N381MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N381MC-2016-08-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer HUGHES 269C (registry code 8059500, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-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: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,071 total, 62 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA08FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA022) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071108826399A

## Narrative

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

(-23) EXPERIENCED FIXED WING PILOT IN TRAINING AS A STUDENT IN ROTORCRAFT HELICOPTER ON A SOLO FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED BY EYEWITNESSES TO DEPART THE AIRPORT TO THE NORTH. BETWEEN ABOUT 800-1500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE HELICOPTER FALLING TAIL FIRST TO THE GROUND. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION FOUND EVIDENCE OF THE HELICOPTER IMPACTING THE GROUND FROM A VERTICAL DESCENT, LEFT SKID FIRST, SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW. THE MAIN ROTOR AND THE TAIL ROTOR APPEARED TO HAVE NOT BEEN ROTATING. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE OIL FILTER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF COPPER. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS NOTED TO BE 8.6 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH NO COPPER NOTED. MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ABNORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. THE ENGINE WILL BE EXAMINED BY A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS ON DECEMBER 13, 2007.

## 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 SEA08FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA022), Nov 8, 2007: Hughes 269C (N381MC), Baker City, OR, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor rpm while maneuvering.

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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