# NTSB FTW96TA398: Hughes 269C, N7492F, Houston, TX, September 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: September 23, 1996, 22:45 local (Sep 24, 1996, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.650577, -95.28012 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6506&lon=-95.2801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20003 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96TA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20003/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96TA398 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Other gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,skid assembly - worn (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - landing gear,skid assembly - separation - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact - blade strike ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 350401 - Airframe hours: 11500 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 42; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960923029689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960923029689A), Sep 23, 1996: Hughes 269C, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Public aircraft dual flight. During autorotation demo run on landing right skid failed. Exceeded skid wear limits. (-23) on September 23, 1996, at 2247 CDT, a… 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.