# NTSB DEN00LA083: Hughes 269C, N1098B, Loveland, CO, May 3, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 2000, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Loveland, CO
- Coordinates: 40.360584, -105.179008 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3606&lon=-105.1790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49118/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA083

## Probable cause

The pilot misjudged the run on landing during a full autorotation.  Factors were a total loss of power for unknown reasons and soft terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - run on landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - run on landing - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During a practice power recovery autorotation, the private single engine land rated, helicopter student pilot performed a full autorotation when the engine lost all power.  During the ensuing power off landing to an open soft field, the helicopter tipped forward, the main rotor struck and severed the tail boom, and the helicopter rolled on its right side.  An examination of the engine provided no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On May 3, 2000, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N1098B, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing near Loveland, Colorado.  The student pilot was not injured.  The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot holds a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating.  On this flight he was a student pilot practicing maneuvers in preparing for a helicopter rating.

The pilot reported that he was practicing autorotations and during initial entry to a practice power recovery autorotation, the engine lost all power and a full autorotation was performed. According to the pilot, he performed a run-on landing in a soft field and the helicopter tipped forward causing the main rotor blades to contact and sever the tail boom.  The helicopter then rolled on its right side and spun 180 degrees.

Examination of the engine provided no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1098B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1098B-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 400920, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 400920
- Airframe hours: 12147
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Scion Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 29, 1999, 39 hours before
- Departed: FNL, LOVELAND, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 973 total, 67 in this make and model, 740 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FNL, 320 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 20000503004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000503004459A), May 3, 2000: Hughes 269C, No damage. (.23) Student practicing autorotation in top 1/2 of the autorotation at 1000AGL, Mr. Sampson throttled back and the engine died. Mr. Sampson went to full…

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.

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