# NTSB DFW07CA050: Hughes 269C, N9655F, Mineral Wells, TX, December 30, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 30, 2006, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Mineral Wells, TX
- Coordinates: 32.7813888888889, -98.0602777777778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7814&lon=-98.0603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FTW
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65100
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65100/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA050

## Probable cause

The loss of control as result of loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover - out of ground effect
  - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The 22-hour helicopter student pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter while performing a hovering maneuver during a solo training flight.  The pilot added that while hovering at a skid height of 10-feet above the ground, the helicopter encountered a phenomena known as loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).  The helicopter entered an uncontrolled hard spin to the right.  The pilot responded by lowering the collective and the helicopter landed hard.  The helicopter sustained structural damage to the right strut, the tail rotor drive shafts, and the right horizontal stabilizer.  The pilot egressed from the helicopter normally and sustained no injuries.  The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 210 degrees at 6 knots.

## Factual narrative

The 22-hour helicopter student pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter while performing a hovering maneuver during a solo training flight.  The pilot added that while hovering at a skid height of 10-feet above the ground, the helicopter encountered a phenomena known as loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).  The helicopter entered an uncontrolled hard spin to the right.  The pilot responded by lowering the collective and the helicopter landed hard.  The helicopter sustained structural damage to the right strut, the tail rotor drive shafts, and the right horizontal stabilizer.  The pilot egressed from the helicopter normally and sustained no injuries.  The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 210 degrees at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9655F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9655F), registered now, S/N 910123 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: Unknown
- Airframe hours: 8500
- Engines: Lycoming H10 360A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mark and  Connie Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KMWL, Mineral Wells, TX
- Destination: KMWL, Mineral Wells, TX
- Airport: KMWL, Mineral Wells

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 22 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KMWL

## 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 20061230025989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061230025989A), Dec 30, 2006: Hughes 269C, Mineral Wells, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On 12/30/06, the pilot [privacy data omitted] was hovering N9655F approximately 10 feet above the ramp at the Mineral Wells Airport. He inserted left…

## Other investigations on N9655F (1)

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 ERA27LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA27LA013), Oct 15, 2026: Hughes 269C (N9655F), Gastonia, NC, investigation ongoing

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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