# Accident 20230627019109A: Hughes 269A, Anderson, SC, June 27, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 2023, 16:26 local time
- Place: Anderson, SC
- Airport: Anderson Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4946° N, 82.7094° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4946&lon=-82.7094&mi=10
- Aircraft: N90270, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90270) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 6,840 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA289) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230627019109A

## Narrative

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

THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^/MECHANIC PERFORMED A BLADE TENSION CHECK BY HAND AFTER LANDING. THE YELLOW BLADE SEEMED MUCH WEAKER THAN THE OTHER TWO BLADES.  THE HELICOPTER WAS PUT INTO MAINTENANCE AND THE PHASING AND TORQUE ADJUSTEMNT WAS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HMI. THE HELICOPTER WAS RETURNED TO THE RAMP AND A GROUND RUN PERFORMED AND APPEARED TO BE GOOD. THE HELICOPTER WAS SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHILE WORK WAS COMPLETED ON A CUSTOMER'S AIRCRAFT. LATER IN THE DAY IT WAS DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT AND IT APPEARED TO BE WITHOUT THE VIBRATION. UPON LANDING A GROUND RESONANCE OCCURRED. THE PILOT LIFTED THE HELICOPTER BACK INTO A HOVER IN HOPES OF CORRECTED THE RESONANCE ISSUE. IT APPEARED TO GET WORSE. THE POWER WAS REDUCED AND HELICOPTER LANDED, REACHING TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL WAS THE LAST THING THE PILOT REMEMBERS. THE PILOT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND RECEIVED HEAD LACERATIONS. THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^/MECHANIC SUPERVISED THE APPRENTICE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE PHASING AND TORQUE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DAMPERS.

## 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 ERA23LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA289), Jun 27, 2023: Hughes 269A (N90270), Anderson, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanics’ improper torquing of the main rotor blade dampers, which resulted in a ground resonance event during landing.

## Other reports on N90270 (2)

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

- [Accident 19901226056189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901226056189A), Dec 26, 1990: Hughes 269A (N90270), Jeffersonville, IN, Substantial damage. On radio check flight pulled mixture control by mistake instead of carb heat. Rotor RPM decayed due friction locked
- [Accident 19870220036679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870220036679A), Feb 20, 1987: Hughes 269A (N90270), Jacksonville, FL, Substantial damage. The helicopter landed hard and the tail boom was severed. The instructor failed to maintain rotor speed.

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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