# Accident 20081231856849A: Hughes 269C, Panama City Be, FL, December 31, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 31, 2008, 12:30 local time
- Place: Panama City Be, FL
- Airport: Panhandle Helicopter LLC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1097° N, 85.7139° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1097&lon=-85.7139&mi=10
- Aircraft: N36254, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36254-2021-08-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer HUGHES 269C (registry code 8059500, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 531 total, 211 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081231856849A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATED HE WAS IN A 50 FT HOVER LOOKING AT AN ALLIGATOR.  HE STATED HE WAS STARTING TO PITCH FORWARD AND PULL IN SOME POWER WHEN HE EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED YAW TO THE RIGHT.  HE APPLIED LEFT PEDAL BUT THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SPIN VIOLENTLY.  HE ESTIMATES THE AIRCRAFT SPUN 8-10 TIMES BEFORE HITTING IN THE SWAMP.  AS HE APPROACHED THE SURFACE, HE TRIED TO PULL SOME MORE COLLECTIVE TO SOFT THE LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT HIT HARD IN 2.5 FEET OF WATER AND MUD.  THE LANDING SKIDS COLLAPSED AND THE STRUCTURAL TUBING SUPPORTING THE SKIDS WERE BENT OR BROKEN.  THE ENGINE INGESTED WATER AND MUD AND QUIT RUNNING ON IMPACT.  THE DOORS "POPPED OPEN" AND THE SUPPORT BRACES FOR THE COCKPIT SNAPPED.  NONE OF THE ROTORS IMPACTED THE WATER.  CONTINUITY OF CONTROLS WAS VERIFIED.

## 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 ERA09CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA120), Dec 31, 2008: Schweizer 269C (N36254), Panama City, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during an out-of-ground-effect hover.

## Other reports on N36254 (1)

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

- [Accident 19990310002129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990310002129A), Mar 10, 1999: Hughes 269C (N36254), Laredo, TX, Substantial damage. Hughes 269C helicopter was involved in aerial application when it lost power and crashed, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on March 10, 0910 central…

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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