# NTSB CEN14LA222: Hughes 269A, N90636, Cleburne, TX, April 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 2014, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Cleburne, TX - Coordinates: 32.35361, -97.433891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3536&lon=-97.4339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. - NTSB case key (mKey): 89129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89129/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89129 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA222 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance from terrain while transitioning to a hover taxi and the instructor pilot's inadequate remedial action to prevent the impending tail rotor contact. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was air taxiing the helicopter with an instructor pilot on board. When the student pilot slowed to a hover taxi, the helicopter began bucking violently fore and aft. The helicopter descended and came to rest on its side. A postaccident examination of the wreckage and accident site revealed ground scars consistent with main and tail rotor blade strikes, which were consistent with the aft left skid and tail rotor contacting the ground while the helicopter was moving aft. A helicopter is customarily pitched with its tail low when the pilot performs a quick stop from an air taxi. Tail rotor drive shaft deformation was consistent with the tail rotor blade contacting the ground while being driven. No preimpact anomalies were detected that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. The evidence indicates that the student pilot allowed the tail rotor and aft skid to contact the ground as the helicopter slowed during the transition to hover taxi. The instructor did not anticipate the situation or intervene in a timely manner, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and rollover. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2014, about 1430 central daylight time, a Hughes 269A helicopter, N90636, impacted terrain following a descent from a hover taxi at the Cleburne Regional Airport (CPT), near Cleburne, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial fuselage and main rotor damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from CPT about 1230. According to the student pilot's accident report, he was flying the helicopter in an "air taxi" and slowed to a "hovering taxi." The helicopter began bucking violently fore and aft. He indicated that the helicopter descended and came to rest on its side on the ground. A statement from the flight instructor, in part, said: I have read [the student pilot's] statement and agree with it. I have no recollection of the beginning but, I remember seeing and feeling being shaken and stirred, violently, then being helped out of the aircraft. At 1435, the recorded weather at CPT was: Wind 120 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and took pictures of the accident site. According to the orientation of ground scars, the direction the helicopter was heading was about 145 degrees. The ground scars were on a ramp where there were buildings to the east and southeast of the accident site. The observed ground scars were consistent with main rotor blade and tail rotor blade strikes. A safety investigator from the helicopter manufacturer examined the photographs. According to the manufacturer's investigator, the ground scars from the main rotor and tail rotor blades and the helicopter damage are consistent with the aft left skid contacting the ground while the aircraft was moving aft. A helicopter is customarily pitched tail low when a quick stop from an air taxi is performed. Main rotor blade ground scars were to the left and aft of the fuselage. A torsional deformation of the tail rotor drive shaft is visible at the forward end of the tail boom consistent with the tail rotor blade contact the ground while being driven. The on-scene examination and review of photographs did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90636](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90636-2018-01-10), registration cancelled 2018-01-10, S/N 570708, built 1967 (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: 570708 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 3733 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2014 - Departed: CPT, Cleburne, TX - Destination: CPT, Cleburne, TX - Airport: CPT, Cleburne Rgnl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 84; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,180 total, 16,475 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 90 total, 14 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KCPT ## 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 20140425017819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140425017819A), Apr 25, 2014: Hughes 269A, Cleburne, TX, Destroyed. The 14 CFR part 91 flight was for the instruction of the student pilot, named above. The student pilot stated that they had air-taxied about 200 yards at a… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89129. 12.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Supplied Accident Site Depiction (item 4, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Supplied%20Accident%20Site%20Depiction-Master.PDF - Examination Summary (item 5, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - NTSB Party Form (item 6, .PDF, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Ground Scars (Photo Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 7, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Ground%20Scars%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Ground Scars (Photo Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 8, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Ground%20Scars%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of Airport Manager) (item 9, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Manager)-Master.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.