# Accident 20120502009279A: Hughes 269C, Phoenix, AZ, May 2, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2012, 11:42 local time
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5003° N, 112.0419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5003&lon=-112.0419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N380TL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N380TL-2017-07-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (registry code 41893, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-d1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,460 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12FA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA191) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120502009279A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS FLYING AERIAL PHOTO FLIGHT WITH PHOTOGRAPHER ON BOARD. IN CRUISE FLIGHT, PILOT FELT AIRFRAME VIBRATION AND METALIC "CLUNK" FROM REAR OF AIRCRAFT FOLLOWED BY A RIGHT YAW. AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND TO LEFT PEDAL INPUTS. PILOT REDUCED THROTTLE AND ENTERED AUTOROTATION, PLANNING TO LAND ON A CITY STREET. PILOT COMPENSATED FOR RIGHT YAW WITH LEFT CYCLIC INPUTS. PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION AT 500 FEET AND COULD NOT REACH THE RESIDENTIAL STREET, INSTEAD LANDING ON THE ROOF OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE. ROOF COLLASPED AND AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN BACK YARD.

## 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 WPR12FA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA191), May 2, 2012: Hughes 269C (N380TL), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of tail rotor drive due to a fatigue failure of the main transmission pinion, which resulted in a loss of directional control during cruise flight.

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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