# NTSB CEN09LA558: Hughes 269C, N58163, Arapahoe, NE, September 2, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2009, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Arapahoe, NE - Coordinates: 40.300086, -99.890396 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3001&lon=-99.8904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Boeing Helicopters - NTSB case key (mKey): 74651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA558 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74651/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74651 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA558 ## Probable cause A sudden vibration for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight in a reciprocating single-engine helicopter, the pilot heard a loud noise and felt a vibration. The pilot immediately entered an autorotation and turned the flight controls over to the flight instructor. The flight instructor elected to continue the autorotation to an open field. During the landing the helicopter's landing skids stuck into the soft terrain, causing the helicopter's nose to pitch down and tail to pitch up. The main rotor blades impacted the tail boom, severing it; the helicopter subsequently rolled onto its side. An examination of the helicopter failed to find a reason for the noise and vibration. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2009, approximately 1040 central daylight time, a single-engine, Hughes 269 helicopter, N58163, was substantially damaged during a landing after entering a precautionary autorotation. The pilot and flight instructor, were not injured. The helicopter was registered and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight. In a statement submitted by the flight instructor, he reported that while in cruise flight, they heard a loud noise and the pilot immediately entered an autorotation. During the autorotation, the pilot relinquished the flight controls to the flight instructor. The flight instructor elected to continue the autorotation to a field. The instructor added that during the touch-down, the right front skid "sunk into the soft field", the helicopter's nose dropped and when the tail section rose, the main rotor blades severed the tail-boom. The helicopter subsequently rolled onto its side. The pilot stated that, "they heard and then felt a vibration and a loud bang or explosion" that came from the aft section of the helicopter and so he entered an autorotation. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site, reported that the helicopter's main rotor blades severed the tail-boom during the landing. An examination of the helicopter was conducted by an FAA inspector and a technical representative from the airframe manufacturer. During the inspection the engine was started and ran normally. The transmission rotated with oil visible in the sight gauge. The drive system's "V-belts" appeared undamaged and functional; the clutch actuator operated when electrical power was applied. The engine's lower coupling to lower pulley driveshaft was intact and the splined fittings were undamaged. The helicopter's cyclic and collective controls exhibited continuity through the range of motion. The main and tail rotor blades were examined; the tail rotor blades appeared undamaged. The main rotor blades displayed various degrees of damage, consistent with a sudden stoppage at low rotor RPM and blade impact with the tail-boom and ground. The reason for the loud noise and vibration was not found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58163](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58163-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 740334, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C - Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 740334 - Airframe hours: 2310 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cavalea Continental Freight Inc - Registered owner: Cavalea Continental Freight Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2009 - Departed: 37V, Arapahoe, NE - Destination: AKO, Colorado Plains, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 595 total, 595 in this make and model, 534 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 14 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## 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 20090902018149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090902018149A), Sep 2, 2009: Hughes 269C, Arapahoe, NE, Substantial damage. The pilot was beginning an approach to the airport at 500 feet AGL when he heard a bank and felt vibrations. He entered an auto-rotation towards a field east… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74651. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.