- Date
- September 23, 1996, 22:45 local (Sep 24, 1996, 03:45 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7492FHughes 269C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960923029689A
- Case key
- 20003
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
company maintenance personnel not complying with maintenance procedures and directives to inspect the helicopter's skids, which allowed the right skid to wear beyond the manufacturer's tolerances.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flight instructor was demonstrating an autorotation from 50 feet AGL to a grassy area. The helicopter touched down with skids level and the flight instructor increased the collective to keep the aircraft skids light on the ground and to maintain a straight ground track. The helicopter had traveled approximately 70 feet, and was moving at approximately 20 knots when the aircraft pitched forward and to the right. The flight instructor 'felt at least three severe impacts to the aircraft and then the aircraft was stopped.' Examination of the helicopter revealed that the left and right skid tubes were fractured, and the right skid was detached from its front and rear gear dampers. The tailboom and tail rotor were 'sheared off' by the 'main rotor blades.' Further examination of the skids revealed that the bottom of the right skid tube was 'worn beyond the manufacturers tolerances.' According to an FAA inspector, a 'certified A&P [mechanic] failed to follow inspection procedures as outlined in [the] work card and [the] Manufacturer Maintenance Manual.'
Factual narrative
On September 23, 1996, at 2245 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C, N7492F, owned and operated by the City of Houston, sustained substantial damage during an autorotation near Houston, Texas. The flight instructor and commercial pilot receiving instruction received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 night instructional flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at the Houston Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, about 2110.
The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating an autorotation from 50 feet AGL. He initiated the autorotation to the grassy area between taxiway Foxtrot and taxiway Golf 2, just west of runway 17. The helicopter touched down with skids level and he increased the collective to keep the aircraft skids light on the ground and to maintain a straight ground track. The helicopter had traveled approximately 70 feet, and was moving at approximately 20 knots when the aircraft pitched forward and to the right. He "felt at least three severe impacts to the aircraft and then the aircraft was stopped."
Examination of the helicopter by the FAA inspector and operator revealed that the left and right skid tubes were fractured, and the right skid was detached from its front and rear gear dampers. The tailboom and tail rotor were "sheared off' by the "main rotor blades." According to the FAA inspector, a "certified A&P [mechanic] failed to follow inspection procedures as outlined in [the] work card and [the] Manufacturer Maintenance Manual."
According to the operator, the bottom of the right skid tube was "worn beyond the manufacturers tolerances."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7492F
- Reported as
- Hughes 269C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 350401
- Airframe hours
- 11,500
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-D1A, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- City Of Houston
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 15, 1996 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- HOU
- Airport
- HOU · William P. Hobby
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,096 total · 167 in this make and model · 4,019 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 36 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.