# Accident 20160701011079A: Hughes 269C, Cullman, AL, July 1, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2016, 15:10 local time
- Place: Cullman, AL
- Airport: Cullman Regional-Folsom Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: IM8S
- Location: 34.2675° N, 86.8586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2675&lon=-86.8586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9658F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9658F) (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-D1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 236 total, 236 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA363) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160701011079A

## Narrative

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

WHILE IN THE FLARE AT THE COMPLETION OF A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND.  THIS PRODUCED A RAPID ROTATION OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE HELICOPTER THEN MADE HARD CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

## 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 GAA16CA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA363), Jul 1, 2016: Hughes 269C (N9658F), Cullman, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter flight instructor candidate's improper execution of the autorotation, resulting in abnormal ground contact and subsequent damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor drive…

## Other reports on N9658F (1)

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

- [Incident 20140126000369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140126000369I), Jan 26, 2014: Hughes 269C (N9658F), Cullman, AL, Minor damage. Minor damage to blade tip caps, and 3 inch scrape approximately 1/16 inch deep on upper left tailboom just forward of tailrotor arc. According to DPE in the…

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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