# Accident 20120417005669A: Hughes 269A, Grinnell, IA, April 17, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2012, 11:15 local time
- Place: Grinnell, IA
- Airport: Grinnell Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7100° N, 92.7361° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7100&lon=-92.7361&mi=10
- Aircraft: N69HJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69HJ-2021-03-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 8,692 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA247) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120417005669A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED DURING THE TAKEOFF PHASE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND ENGINE RUNUP AND WAS ABOUT TO DEPART FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT WITH HIS SON AS A PASSENGER.THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECOGNIZED THAT "GROUND RESONANCE" WAS HAPPENING, AND HE TRIED TO REDUCE THE THROTTLE TO HELP ELIMINATE THE CONDITION. THE HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR MAST BROKE OFF JUST ABOVE THE GEAR BOX. THE ROTOR FELL AFT SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT ON THE SKIDS. THE PILOT WAS CERTIFIED AND CURRENT TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER WITH PASSENGERS.

## 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 CEN12LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA247), Apr 17, 2012: Hughes 269A (N69HJ), Grinnell, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper liftoff technique, which resulted in ground resonance, and the pilot's delayed recognition of the ground resonance.

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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