# NTSB CEN12LA648: Hughes 269A, N37754, Mc Cool Junction, NE, September 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 2012, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Mc Cool Junction, NE - Coordinates: 40.740997, -97.590934 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7410&lon=-97.5909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA648 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85100/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA648 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot’s entry into the autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power as a result of the student pilot rapidly lowering the helicopter’s collective and the partly obstructed air filter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff, about 400 feet above ground level and about 50 knots airspeed, the flight instructor reduced the throttle to idle so the student pilot could demonstrate an autorotation. The student dropped the collective to enter the autorotation, and the engine stopped producing power; the helicopter descended rapidly and landed hard. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed an obstructed air filter. It is likely that the student lowered the collective too quickly, which, combined with the obstructed air filter, created a rich fuel mixture and loss of engine power. The student pilot mismanaged the autorotation and the instructor did not intervene in a timely manner to prevent the hard landing. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 2012, about 1230 central daylight time, a Hughes 269A, helicopter, N37754, performed a hard landing, following an autorotation near Mc Cool Junction, Nebraska. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Star City Flying Club, Lincoln, Nebraska, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airfield. According to statements taken by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, the purpose of the flight was to prepare the student pilot for an upcoming check ride. After takeoff, about 400 feet above ground level and at an airspeed on 50 knots, the CFI brought the engine back to idle to simulate a loss of engine power. The student dropped the collective and the engine quit producing power. An autorotation was initiated; however, the helicopter rapidly descended and landed hard. The tail boom was severed and the helicopter rolled over on its side. An inspection of the airframe and engine by inspectors from the FAA inspectors revealed that the air filter was approximately 80% obstructed by debris. A ground run was performed on the engine and the engine was found to have an excessively rich mixture. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37754](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37754-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 67-16774 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A - Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 67-16774 - Airframe hours: 4706 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Star City Flying Club LLC - Registered owner: Star City Flying Club LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2013 - Departed: McCool Junction, NE - Destination: McCool Junction, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 75; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KJYR, 13 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 20120919022539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120919022539A), Sep 19, 2012: Hughes 269A, Mccool Junction, NE, Substantial damage. While performing practice auto-rotations the engine quit on descent. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter and landed hard causing rotors to… ## Other investigations on N37754 (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 ATL97LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA067), May 1, 1997: Hughes 269A (N37754), Lake Wales, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s); and the flight instructor's improper flare and improper use of the flight controls, while flaring for an autorotative landing. 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.