# NTSB GAA16CA363: Hughes 269C, N9658F, Cullman, AL, July 1, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2016, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Cullman, AL - Coordinates: 34.267501, -86.858612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2675&lon=-86.8586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA363 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93552/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93552 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA363 ## Probable cause The helicopter flight instructor candidate's improper execution of the autorotation, resulting in abnormal ground contact and subsequent damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor drive assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,428 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 5,010 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter flight instructor reported that the commercial pilot rated/helicopter flight instructor candidate receiving instruction was practicing autorotations with power recovery to the runway; during a practice 180 degree autorotation, the flight instructor candidate executed the landing flare too low to the ground resulting in a tail rotor strike. The flight instructor further reported that he took the controls and landed the helicopter after it had yawed, un-commanded to the right, about 180 degrees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor drive assembly. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-21A (2012) discusses procedures for autorotation and states in part: Care must be taken in the execution of the flare so that the cyclic control is neither moved rearward so abruptly that it causes the helicopter to climb nor moved so slowly that it does not arrest the descent, which may allow the helicopter to settle so rapidly that the tail rotor strikes the ground… extreme caution should be used to avoid an excessive nose high and tail low attitude below 10 feet. The helicopter must be close to the landing attitude to keep the tail rotor from contacting the surface. ## Factual narrative The helicopter flight instructor reported that the commercial pilot rated/helicopter flight instructor candidate receiving instruction was practicing autorotations with power recovery to the runway; during a practice 180 degree autorotation, the flight instructor candidate executed the landing flare too low to the ground resulting in a tail rotor strike. The flight instructor further reported that he took the controls and landed the helicopter after it had yawed, un-commanded to the right, about 180 degrees. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor drive assembly. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-21A (2012) discusses procedures for autorotation and states in part: Care must be taken in the execution of the flare so that the cyclic control is neither moved rearward so abruptly that it causes the helicopter to climb nor moved so slowly that it does not arrest the descent, which may allow the helicopter to settle so rapidly that the tail rotor strikes the ground… extreme caution should be used to avoid an excessive nose high and tail low attitude below 10 feet. The helicopter must be close to the landing attitude to keep the tail rotor from contacting the surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9658F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9658F), registered now, S/N 210090, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C - Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 210090 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 8897.3 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wallace State College - Registered owner: Wallace State College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 2016 - Departed: CMD, Cullman, AL - Destination: CMD, Cullman, AL - Airport: CMD, Cullman Rgnl-Folsom Field, runway 02, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,062 total, 578 in this make and model, 901 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 240 total, 215 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KHSV, 23 nm away ## 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 20160701011079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160701011079A), Jul 1, 2016: Hughes 269C, Cullman, AL, Substantial damage. While in the flare at the completion of a practice autorotation the tail rotor contacted the ground. This produced a rapid rotation of the helicopter. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93552. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, Instructor (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1,%20Instructor-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, Student (item 2, .PDF, 844 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442511&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1,%20Student-Master.PDF - FAA Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photos-Master.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.