# NTSB ATL84LA294: Hughes 269B, N9339F, Saluda, SC, September 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1984, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Saluda, SC
- Coordinates: 33.99979, -81.769157 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9998&lon=-81.7692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6549
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84LA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6549/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA294

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Forced landing, maneuvering
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - improper, dual student (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, dual student (contributing factor)
- Roll over, landing
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - power on landing - improper, dual student

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED PRACTICE AUTOROTATION AFTER POWER WAS APPLIED TO EFFECT A RECOVERY. THE CFI, ON THEFLT, STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE STUDENT WAS GOING TO OVERSHOOT AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO MAKE A POWER RECOVERY AT 100 FT AGL. HE SAID THAT THE ACFT SHUDDERED AND ENTERED A HIGH SINK RATE. BY THE TIME THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ROTOR RPM WAS BELOW THE PROPER RANGE AND DECAYING. THE ENGINE RPM WAS NOTED TO BE NEAR ZERO. THE CFI REPORTED THAT HE THEN 'BOTTOMED' THE COLLECTIVE AND OPENED THE THROTTLE BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. IN SPITE OF THE CFI'S EFFORTS TO RECOVER, THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND TAIL LOW AND YAWED LEFT. AFTER SLIDING APRX 20 FT, THE ACFT ROLLED OVER. FAA CHECKED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ROLL OVER AND FOUND IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WITH PROPER MAGNETO OPERATION ANDA SMOOTH IDLE AT 1300-1350 RPM. MANUALLY REDUCED TO 500-600 RPM THE LOW SIDE CUSHION RETURNED THE ENGINE TO NORMAL IDLE AT THROTTLE RELEASE. NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENGINE MALFUCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9339F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 34-0049
- Airframe hours: 60003
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: South Carolina Helicopter, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 1984, 21 hours before
- Departed: SALUDA, SC
- Airport: Etheredge Air-Strip, runway 30, 1,700 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, multi-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 533 total, 127 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 199 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840923050779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840923050779A), Sep 23, 1984: Hughes 269B, Saluda, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck ground tail low and rolled over during practice autorotation. Improper late recovery attempt by CFI

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.

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