# NTSB CEN23LA048: Hughes 369HS, N668M, Oxford, CO, November 23, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 23, 2022, 13:07 local (20:07 UTC) - Place: Oxford, CO - Coordinates: 37.153552, -107.7518 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1536&lon=-107.7518&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106366/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106366 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA048 ## Probable cause The designated pilot examiner’s failure to maintain a proper descent during a practice 180° autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Designated examiner (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a checkride with an applicant pilot, the designated pilot examiner was demonstrating a 180° autorotation. The applicant pilot reported the descent was too quick, the examiner flared too low, and the helicopter experienced a hard landing. An airport surveillance video showed the helicopter descend at a rapid rate and impact the runway. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor system. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N668M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N668M), registered now, S/N 310312S, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS - Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 310312S - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 9806.4 - Engines: Rolls-Royce M250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Colorado Highland Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 25, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DRO, Durango-La Plata County, runway 21, 9,201 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,200 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KDRO, 1 nm away - METAR: KDRO 231953Z AUTO 25012G20KT 10SM CLR 07/M12 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP169 T00671122= ## 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 20221123021029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221123021029A), Nov 23, 2022: Hughes 369HS, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. On 11/23/2022, a designated pilot examiner (DPE) was conducting an aircraft proficiency examination on a student. The required proficiency exam was to add a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106366. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15300176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15300633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Airport surveillance camera recording (item 3, MOV, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15300946&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=Tailstrike-Rel.MOV 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.