# Accident 20230309001299A: Hughes 269A, Titusville, FL, March 9, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2023, 17:30 local time
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.5093° N, 80.7930° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5093&lon=-80.7930&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8911F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8911F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HO-360 series (registry code 41513, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HO-360
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,176 total, 75 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA146) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230309001299A

## Narrative

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

ON 03/09/2023 AT 17:30 EST ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A HUGHES 269A WITH TWO SOULS ONBOARD, WAS ATTEMPTING A PRACTICE 180 AUTO ROTATION, SIX MILES WEST OF THE TITUSVILLE, FL AIRPORT (KTIX) WHEN THE ROTOR RPM DROOPED AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN RESULTING IN THE YELLOW AND RED MAIN ROTOR BLADES MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TAIL BOOM. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON THE GROUND AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT OR PASSENGER.

## 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 ERA23LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA146), Mar 9, 2023: Hughes 269A (N8911F), Titusville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom.

## Other reports on N8911F (1)

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

- [Incident 19980423022969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980423022969I), Apr 23, 1998: Hughes 269A (N8911F), Helena, MT, Minor damage. On check ride engine lost power. Autorotated and landed hard.

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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