# NTSB CEN26LA181: Hughes 369HS, N926ES, Durango, CO, May 7, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 7, 2026, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.151528, -107.75377 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1515&lon=-107.7538&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 September 17, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202951/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202951 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA181 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction and the pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation in shifting wind conditions, 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 · Pilot (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: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Hughes 369HS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=4470728), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [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) ## Analysis While conducting an instructional flight, the flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was performing practice autorotations in the helicopter. He stated that wind conditions were light and variable. During the accident practice straight-in autorotation, the pilot receiving instruction stated that he overshot the intended landing point and began slowing the helicopter. As the helicopter slowed to about 30 knots, he then lowered the nose to regain airspeed. He reported that the rotor RPM was on the low side of the green arc and that the airspeed was about 60 knots. During the flare, about 10 ft, both the pilot and flight instructor simultaneously raised the collective in attempt to cushion the landing. However, the helicopter continued to sink and landed hard. The skids collapsed and the helicopter slid about 100 ft before it came to rest upright on the taxiway. The helicopter’s tail boom and one of the main rotor blades separated during the accident sequence. Both the instructor and pilot stated that the wind had shifted opposite to the direction the windsock was indicating at the time of the accident. Wind recorded at the time of the accident was light and variable at 4 knots. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N926ES](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926ES), registered now, S/N 940641S, built 1974 (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 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 940641S - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 6581.6 - Engines: ALLISON 250 SER 400HP 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Colorado Highland Helicopters - Registered owner: Royal Helicopter Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2026 - Departed: 00C, Durango, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DRO, Durango-La Plata County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: unknown; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,634 total, 9,006.8 in this make and model, 10,577 as pilot in command, 63.7 in the last 90 days, 8.9 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 453 total, 140 in this make and model, 368 as pilot in command, 96 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KDRO, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KDRO 071753Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 14/M10 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP193 T01391100 10144 21061 58015 ## 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 20260507006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260507006649A), May 7, 2026: Hughes 369HS, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. During a training maneuver, a commercially rated pilot entered an autorotation. The pilot recognized that the helicopter was going to overshoot the intended… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202951. 3.6 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20748977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20751184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20FORM%206120.1%20PILOT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Instructor aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20751767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20FORM%206120.1%20INSTRUCTOR_Redacted-Rel.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.