# Accident 20080423833539A: Hughes 269A, Killeen, TX, April 23, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 2008, 17:15 local time
- Place: Killeen, TX
- Airport: Skylark Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.0858° N, 97.6864° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0858&lon=-97.6864&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9064N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9064N-2014-11-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 515 total, 55 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW08CA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080423833539A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A PRIVATE HELICOPTER PILOT, WORKING TOWARDS HIS COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE, AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, CFI HELICOPTER, WERE THE PILOTS ABOARD N9064N. THEY STATED THAT THEY PLANNED THE FLIGHT ON APRIL 23RD TO WORK ON POWER OFF LANDINGS/AUTOROTATIONS. IN FLIGHT, AFTER TWO NORMAL LANDINGS, A POWER OFF APPROACH/AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED. THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT STATED THAT THEY FAILED TO INSURE THAT PROPER RPM WAS MAINTAINED DURING THE POWER OFF APPROACH. THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST FOR POOR APPROACH EXECUTION AT LOW ALTITUDE BY CHANGING HIS LANDING SPOT WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THEY MIGHT HIT SOME OF THE RUNWAY LIGHTING AND THAT BOTH PILOTS ALLOWED FURTHER ROTOR RPM DECAY TO THE POINT THAT APPLICATION OF FULL POWER FAILED TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, DAMAGING THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR THE SKIDS WHICH THEN SPREAD APART ALLOWING THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED.

## 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 DFW08CA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA114), Apr 23, 2008: Hughes 269A (N9064N), Killeen, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM and a safe rate of descent during the autorotation. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.

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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