# Accident 20090422004549A: Hughes 269C, Las Vegas, NV, April 22, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 2009, 14:00 local time
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.2733° N, 115.3694° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2733&lon=-115.3694&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17YS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17YS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-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 HIO360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090422004549A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  ON 4/22/2009, PIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS DEMONSTRATING A PINNACLE APPROACH TO HIS STUDENT WITHIN THE FOOTHILLS ADJACENT TO THE NORTHWEST PRACTICE AREA, AND APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES N/W OF THE NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT (VGT).  PIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PERFORMED A HIGH RECON OF THE INTENDED LANDING SITE AND THEN STARTED A DESCENDING LANDING PATTERN FOR THE PINNACLE.  PIC TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL AT APPROXIMATELY 4,100 FEET, AND WAS ON A STABILIZED STEEP APPROACH FOR THE PINNACLE.  AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET ABOVE THE LANDING SITE THE PIC NOTICED A SLIGHT FLUCTUATION OF THE OIL PRESSURE GUAGE, AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT.  PIC IMMEDIATELY DETERMINED THAT AN AUTOROTATION TO THIS SITE WAS NOT A SAFE OPTION.  PIC ELECTED TO USE WHAT ROTOR RPM HE HAD REMAINING TO CLEAR THE RIDGELINE, AND HOPE FOR A FAVORABLE FORCED LANDING SITE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIDGE.  THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED PRIOR TO REACHING A SUITABLE LANDING SITE, CAUSING THE TAILBOOM TO STRIKE THE DESCENDING/SLOPING TERRAIN WHICH CAUSED TAILROTOR SEPARATION.  ONCE THIS OCCURRED, THE SKIDS ALSO MADE CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN BOUNCING THE HELICOPTER DOWNSLOPE.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DID STRIKE THE TAILBOOM AT SOME POINT DURING THIS DESCENT, OR DURING THE ROLLOVER PROCESS.

## 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 WPR09LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA213), Apr 22, 2009: Schweizer 269C (N17YS), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power during approach for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N17YS (2)

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

- [Accident 20150818012719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150818012719A), Aug 18, 2015: Schweizer 269C (N17YS), North Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. On 8/18/2015, flight instructor and his student were practicing an autorotation at 4700 ft. when the engine quit and wouldn't restart. Helicopter continued…
- [Incident 20110905020609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110905020609I), Sep 5, 2011: Schweizer 269C (N17YS), Orlando, FL, Minor damage. N17YS a Schweizer 269S rotorcraft piloted by a student pilot with a flight instructor onboard struck the tail rotor during auto-rotation, Orlando, FL.

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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