# Accident 20210112001919A: Hughes 269C, Spanish Fork, UT, January 12, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 2021, 13:50 local time
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1132° N, 111.6431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spanish Fork, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1132&lon=-111.6431&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7480F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7480F-2023-01-14) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,650 total, 405 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210112001919A

## Narrative

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

THE CREW WAS CONDUCTING REQUIRED TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR THE STUDENTS CATEGORY AND CLASS RATING CHECK RIDE IN TWO DAYS.  THE CREW PRACTICED SEVERAL AUTOROTATIONS AT THE SPANISH FORK AIRPORT (SPK), AND PROCEEDED TO THE PRACTICE AREA WEST OF THE AIRPORT.  AFTER RECOVERING FROM A PRACTICE SETTLING WITH POWER MANEUVER, THE INSTRUCTOR ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND ANNOUNCED THE SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE.  AT SOME POINT IN THE AUTOROTATION THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT THE PILOTS REALIZING IT.  THE INSTRUCTOR CALLED FOR A POWER RECOVERY BETWEEN 300 TO 500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  THE STUDENT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ENGINE SPOOLING UP WHILE ROLLING ON THE THROTTLE STARTED TO PULL COLLECTIVE.  NOTICING THE ENGINE HAD FAILED, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE CONTROLS AND LANDED AT THE POINT INTENDED FOR THE PRACTICE AUTOROTATION.  THE SKIDS DUG INTO THE SOFT PLOWED FIELD CAUSING THE RIGHT SKID TO COLLAPSE AND THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL ON ITS SIDE.; THE HELICOPTER INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT.

THE PILOTS WERE WEARING NOISE CANCELLING HEADSETS WHEN FLYING.  THEY CLAIM THE ENGINE CANNOT HEARD AT IDLE WHILE USING THE NOISE CANCELLING HEADSETS.  THE LACK OF AUDIBLE QUES, COMMONLY USED AS A PRIMARY ENGINE MONITORING WITH PISTON ENGINES, WAS NOT PRESENT TO GIVE AN IMMEDIATE INDICATION OF AN ENGINE FAILURE.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

## Other reports on N7480F (3)

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

- [Incident 20000226004219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000226004219I), Feb 26, 2000: Hughes 269C (N7480F), Mobile Bay, AL, Minor damage. Pilot flying sight seeing tour in Mobile Bay and stated that engine atarted ot lose power. Pilot furthur stated that he could not maintain flight and landed…
- [Accident 19960310003791A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960310003791A), Mar 10, 1996: Hughes 269C (N7480F), Gulfshores, AL, Substantial damage. Crossing runway 09 to land at hangers collided with 172 N6612V that was on final for 09. No radio reports by 269C.
- [Accident 19800814036279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800814036279A), Aug 14, 1980: Hughes 269C (N7480F), Ellsworth, IA, Substantial damage. Skid dropped into water filler hole on helipad. Helicopter pitched backward and 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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