# Accident 20180816014339A: Schweizer HUGHES 269C, Kindred, ND, August 16, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2018, 10:15 local time
- Place: Kindred, ND
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.6678° N, 97.0081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6678&lon=-97.0081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3625Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3625Z-2019-11-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer HUGHES 269C (registry code 8059500, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER HUGHES 269C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,822 total, 622 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180816014339A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS FLYING LEVEL AT 1000 AGL WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD SNAP.  THE AIRCRAFT YAWED RIGHT AND LOST POWER TO THE MAIN ROTOR.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AUTO ROTATE INTO AN UN-CUT WHEAT FIELD.  THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE TO THE GROUND AND LANDED HARD.  THE SURFACE WAS SOFT DIRT AND THE LEFT SKID DUG INTO THE DIRT AND FLIPPED THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS NOSE.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND WAS CONSUMED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY.

## 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 CEN18LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA334), Aug 16, 2018: Schweizer 269C (N3625Z), Kindred, ND, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately inspect the lower coupling driveshaft during his preflight inspection and his non-compliance with an applicable airworthiness directive, which resulted in the…

## Other reports on N3625Z (1)

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

- [Accident 19921021043129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921021043129A), Oct 21, 1992: Hughes 269C (N3625Z), Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Practice autorotations to hover. Elected to land. Skids touched alternately. Helicopter then rolled over.

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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