# NTSB DFW05CA168: Hughes 269C, N7487F, Bruceville, TX, June 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2005, 19:45 local (Jun 23, 2005, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Bruceville, TX - Coordinates: 31.299999, -97.150001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3000&lon=-97.1500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 61785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61785/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA168 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's improper flare during autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factor was, the lack of suitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - separation - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 724-hour flight instructor reported that the student pilot initiated a planned power-recovery 180-degree autorotation to a plowed field. As the student attempted to recover with power, approximately 20-50 feet above ground level, the instructor noticed "that the engine rpm needle was not coming up to meet the rotor rpm needle." The instructor immediately attempted to "roll maximum throttle on," but realized the throttle would not move, and took control of the helicopter. The student told the instructor that the throttle was stuck. However, the instructor stated the throttle seemed "stuck because it was all the way open." Subsequently, the helicopter contacted the ground and the right skid "dug into the ground," as the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side. The instructor stated that the engine was not running and the throttle was wide open when he took the controls. No mechanical anomolies were noted with the engine or the airframe. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2005, approximately 1945 central daylight time, a single-engine Hughes 269C helicopter, N7487F, registered to DD Leasing of McGregor, Texas and operated by Brazos Helicopters of Bruceville, Texas, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotation after a reported loss of engine power near Bruceville, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area, and a flight plan was not filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight departed from a private heliport near Bruceville, Texas, approximately 1910. According to information provided to the NTSB by the 724-hour flight instructor, the student pilot initiated a practice 180-degree autorotation to a plowed field from an altitude of 700 feet above ground level. The flight instructor added that the practice autorotation was intended to be terminated by a "power recovery," which is a typical recovery technique utilized in primary helicopter instruction. The instructor reported that, "at the time to commence a power recovery," while at approximately 20-50 feet above ground level, he noticed "the engine rpm needle was not coming up to meet the rotor rpm needle." The instructor immediately attempted to "roll maximum throttle on," but realized the throttle would not move, and took control of the helicopter. The student pilot told the instructor that the throttle was stuck. However, the instructor stated the throttle seemed "stuck because it was all the way open." Subsequently, the helicopter contacted the ground and the right skid "dug into the soft ground." The helicopter rolled over coming to rest on its right side. The instructor stated that the engine was not running and the throttle was wide open when he took over the controls of the helicopter. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the tail boom was severed, the main rotor blades were damaged, and the forward section of the right landing skid was separated from the landing gear crosstube assembly. Usable fuel was observed in the fuel tank and examination of the Lycoming HIO-360 engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. The throttle control cable was found connected and moved freely when manipulated by hand. At 1951, the automated surface observing system (ASOS) at the Waco Regional Airport, near Waco, Texas, located approximately 15 miles north of the accident site reported wind from 110 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.06 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7487F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7487F-2007-04-10), registration cancelled 2007-04-10, S/N 470589, built 1977 (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: 470589 - Airframe hours: 6078.7 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 198 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Brazos Helicopters LLC, doing business as Brazos Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: D.D. Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2005, 81.1 hours before - Departed: Bruceville, TX - Destination: Bruceville, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 724 total, 298 in this make and model, 645 as pilot in command, 258 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KACT, 25 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 20050622034209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050622034209A), Jun 22, 2005: Hughes 269C, Bruceville, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On June 22, 2005, at approximately 1945 local, a Hughes, HU-269-C helicopter was destroyed during a 14 CFR part 61 instruction flight in the vicinity of… ## Other investigations on N7487F (2) 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. - [NTSB MKC84LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA265), Aug 29, 1984: Hughes 269C (N7487F), Witts Springs, AR, substantial damage - [NTSB ATL81FLT08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FLT08), May 3, 1981: Hughes 269C (N7487F), Ridgely, TN, substantial damage 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.