# NTSB FTW99LA234: Hughes 269B, N44KH, Russellville, AR, August 23, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1999, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Russellville, AR
- Coordinates: 35.270763, -93.13945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2708&lon=-93.1394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47138/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA234

## Probable cause

The improper touchdown by the flight instructor.

## 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
  - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact

## Analysis

The flight instructor was practicing an autorotation terminating with power to the sod area between the taxiway and runway.  The flight instructor stated that the engine lost power after he initiated the autorotation by lowering the collective and reducing the throttle to idle.  The helicopter touched down 'hard' in a nose high attitude.  The main rotor blades contacted the tailboom, severing it about 24 inches forward of the tail rotor gearbox.  The helicopter rotated about 160 degrees to the left and came to a stop upright.  According to the FAA inspector, an engine run was completed with no duplication of power loss.

## Factual narrative

On August 23, 1999, at 1140 central daylight time, a Hughes 269B helicopter, N44KH, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotational landing at the Russellville Regional Airport, Russellville, Arkansas.  The helicopter was owned and operated by Metco Helicopters, Inc., of Springdale, Arkansas.  The flight instructor was not injured and his pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local personal flight.

The flight instructor reported to the FAA inspector that he was practicing an autorotation, terminating with power, to the sod area between the taxiway and runway, near the eastern end of the runway.  The flight instructor stated that the engine lost power after he initiated the autorotation by lowering the collective and reducing the throttle to idle.  The helicopter touched down "hard" in a nose high attitude.  The main rotor blades contacted the tailboom severing it about 24 inches forward of the tail rotor gearbox.  The helicopter rotated about 160 degrees to the left and came to a stop upright.

According to the FAA inspector, the main rotor blades were removed, and an engine run was completed with no duplication of power loss.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44KH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44KH-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 960249, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 269B
- Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 96-0249
- Airframe hours: 3600
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Metco Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: RUE
- Airport: RUE, Russellville Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,298 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RUE

## 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 19990823013339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990823013339A), Aug 23, 1999: Hughes 269B, Russellvile, AR, Substantial damage. 1966 Hughes 269B helicopter experienced engine problems after take-off, came back down, and landed hard, the acft then spun around and came to rest on its…

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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