# Incident 20131123025869I: Hughes 269C, Bakersfield, CA, November 23, 2013

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2013, 13:50 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Airport: Meadows Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4339° N, 119.0577° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MEADOWS FLD (BFL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4339&lon=-119.0577&mi=10
- Aircraft: N368RW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N368RW-2020-05-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-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: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131123025869I

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT "ON LANDING RUNWAY 30L A BOLT THAT STABILIZES THE ROTOR BLADE WAS DISLODGED. WHEN POWERING UP THE HELICOPTER FOR DEPARTURE, THERE WAS A VIBRATION CAUSE(D) BY THE ROTOR BLADE BEING OUT OF BALANCE FROM THE LOSS OF THE BOLT. THE ROTOR BLADE SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE, FROM BEING OUT OF BALANCE".

ATC REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN PRACTICING AUTO-ROTATIONS.

A RAMP INSPECTION PERFORMED ON THE AIRCRAFT ON 12-4-13 FOUND THAT THE TAIL ROTOR WAS DAMAGED. DAMAGE WAS TO THE TIP OF ONE ROTOR BLADE PREDOMINATELY ON THE LEADING EDGE AND THE BLADE SHOWED BUCKLEING AT THE MID POINT. THE OTHER BLADE WAS DAMAGED ON THE TIP TOWARD THE TRAILING EDGE. THE TAIL SKID OR 'STINGER' HAD FRESH MARKS ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. ALL OF THESE ARE CONSISTANT WITH ROTOR STRIKE.

6-2-14 THE OWNER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN TAKEN BY TRUCK TO A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REPAIR STATION.

THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE AT THE  REPAIR FACILITY REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGED PARTS, INCLUDING THE TAIL ROTOR, TAIL BOOM, SKIDS, AND CROSS STRUT.

THE OWNER SAID THAT THESE PARTS ARE SO HARD TO FIND THAT HE MAY JUST PART OUT THE AIRCRAFT.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.