# NTSB ATL91FA120: Hughes 269C, N11017, Blakely, GA, July 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1991, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Blakely, GA
- Location: 31.3809° N, 84.9270° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blakely, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3809&lon=-84.9270&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8329
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8329/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA120

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - continued, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF X-COUNTRY TRAINING. THE FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) CLOSED THE THROTTLE AT AN ALT OF ABT 900' AGL TO SIMULATE AN ENG FAILURE. DRG A SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATION, ENG RPM WAS NOT MAINTD AT 2500 AS RCMDD BY THE PLT'S OPERG HANDBOOK (POH). THE STUDENT ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO DETERIORATE DRG AN ATMTD PWR ON RECOVERY AT ABT 700' AGL AS HE DID NOT REALIZE THE ENG HAD STOPPED RUNNING. THE CFI ATMTD TO RESTART THE ENG AFTER TAKING CTL OF THE HELICOPTER AT ABT 700' AGL. THE STUDENT RPRTD THE ROTOR RPM REMAINED LOW DRG THE DSCNT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN A LARGE FLD. THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER FELT AS IF IT JUST DROPPED THE LAST FEW FT OF THE AUTOROTATION. NO REASON WAS VERIFIED FOR THE LOSS OF ENG PWR. THE POH STATED THAT RPM SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAINTD DRG PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS & THAT ENG RESTARTS SHOULD NOT BE ATMTD BELOW 2000' AGL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11017](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11017-1991-07-29), registration cancelled 1991-07-29, S/N 900964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 900964
- Airframe hours: 3844
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety International
- Registered owner: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 27, 1991, 12 hours before
- Departed: ABY, ALBANY, GA
- Destination: DHN, DOTHAN, AL
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,319 total, 175 in this make and model, 1,274 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABY, 25 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 19910701030599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910701030599A), Jul 1, 1991: Hughes 269C, Blakely, GA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Engine failed respond on autorotation power recovery. Low rotor RPM caused high impact. Fuel injector nozzles dirty

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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