# NTSB ATL89LA145: Hughes 269A, N9049J, Ozark, AL, May 11, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 11, 1989, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Ozark, AL
- Coordinates: 31.430177, -85.640892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4302&lon=-85.6409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA145

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE USE OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL AND THE MISJUDGED FLARE DURING A PRACTICE TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - separation
  - cyclic - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING HELICOPTER INSTRUCTIONAL FLT A STRAIGHT-IN TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION WAS ATTEMPTED. THE PLT SAID WITNESSES OBSERVED THE TAIL BOOM COME UP INTO THE TIP PATH PLANE. THAT EVENT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN TOUCH DOWN IS MADE ON THE HEEL OF THE SKIDS & THE MAIN ROTOR IS STILL PITCHED AFT BECAUSE OF CYLIC INPUT FOR THE LANDING FLARE. AS THE HELICOPTER ROCKS FORWARD AFTER THE HARD LANDING ON THE SKID HEEL, THE TAIL BOOM WILL BE SEVERED BY THE DISPLACED MAIN ROTOR. FOLLOWING THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATION THE HELICOPTER ROTATED ABOUT 120 DEGREES TO THE LEFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9049J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9049J-1995-04-12), registration cancelled 1995-04-12, S/N 6418033 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 75-0345
- Airframe hours: 5116
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Alabama Avi. & Tech. College
- Registered owner: Alabama Aviat. & Tech. College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1989, 141 hours before
- Airport: 71J, Blackwell Field, runway 30, 4,200 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,761 total, 299 in this make and model, 9,431 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DHN, 20 nm away

## 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 19890511013039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890511013039A), May 11, 1989: Hughes 269A, Ozark, AL, Substantial damage. Made practice autorotation run. Landing tail raised up and was chopped off by main rotors. Skid may have caught.

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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