# NTSB DEN85LA168: Hughes 269C, N5203V, Grand Forks, ND, June 18, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1985, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.910968, -97.069366 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9110&lon=-97.0694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA168

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - autorotation - attempted, dual student (cause)

## Analysis

ON JUNE 18, 1985, A STUDENT PLT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR WERE ON ALOCAL TNG FLT. PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE MISSION, THE INSTRUCTOR HAD HIS STUDENT EXECUTE A 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE MAIN ROTOR RPM WAS ALLOWED TO DECAY INTO THE CRITICAL RANGE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED THE HELICOPTER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5203V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1156
- Airframe hours: 1215
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-D1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: University Of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 7, 1985, 30 hours before
- Airport: GFK, Mark Andrews, runway 35R, 400 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,661 total, 224 in this make and model, 1,374 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850618026269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850618026269A), Jun 18, 1985: Hughes 269C, Grand Forks, ND, Destroyed. Let rotor rpms get too low on practice power loss landing. Instructor unable to recover in time. Impacted ground.

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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