# NTSB ERA23LA146: Hughes 269A, N8911F, Titusville, FL, March 9, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 9, 2023, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.509321, -80.793006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5093&lon=-80.7930&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106856/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106856 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Simulated malf/failure; cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Emergency descent: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Hughes 269A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=4470402), [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 269A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4470402), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a 180° autorotation for his passenger into an open field off airport grounds. Nearing the end of the maneuver, prior to touchdown, he failed to recover engine power in a timely manner which resulted in the rapid decay of the rotor rpm at low altitude; this resulted in a hard landing that subsequently caused the main rotor blades to make contact with the tail boom and severed the tail rotor driveshaft. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no pre accident mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8911F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8911F), registered now, S/N 0230 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A - Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0230 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 2581 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: A & J Aviation Services LLC. - Registered owner: A & J Aviation Services LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2023 - Departed: TIX, Titusville, FL - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,567 total, 97 in this make and model, 3,380 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: TIX, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KTIX 092048Z 10008KT 7SM SCT042 26/11 A3013= ## 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 20230309001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230309001299A), Mar 9, 2023: Hughes 269A, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. On 03/09/2023 at 17:30 EST [privacy data omitted], a Hughes 269A with two souls onboard, was attempting a practice 180 auto rotation, six miles west of the… ## Other investigations on N8911F (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 LAX65A0076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX65A0076), Mar 30, 1965: Hughes 269A (N8911F), San Diego, CA, destroyed ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106856. 16.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 12.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15274659&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15274440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15274924&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20statement%20N8911F_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15274587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_N8911F%20Damage-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.