# NTSB LAX07CA267: Hughes 269C, N58332, Ramona, CA, September 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2007, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.039165, -116.915 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0392&lon=-116.9150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA267 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command(cfi) - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command ## Analysis The helicopter landed hard during performance of a practice autorotation during the instructional flight. The certified flight instructor indicated that the engine lost power after the student initiated the autorotation about 800 feet above the designated dirt field, whereupon the instructor took the controls. The instructor misjudged the landing flare, the helicopter bounced, and it yawed left 90 degrees before coming to rest on its skids. The helicopter's tail boom was broken from the fuselage, and the main rotor blades were bent. Following the helicopter's recovery its engine was run up and the control system was examined. The engine and control system operated normally, and no evidence was found of any malfunction. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2007, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 269C, N58332, touched down hard during a practice autorotation about 7 miles north of Ramona, California. The helicopter was operated by Civic Helicopters, Inc., Carlsbad, California, and it was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot held a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate, and he was not injured. The student pilot held a private pilot certificate (airplanes), and he received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the instructional flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Carlsbad about 1000. In pertinent part, the CFI reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he planned to practice autorotations with his student. The CFI observed that the engine lost power after the student initiated the autorotation about 800 feet above the designated dirt field. The CFI took the controls and the helicopter descended. The CFI indicated that the helicopter touched down hard and bounced. The helicopter yawed left 90 degrees before coming to rest on its skids. The helicopter's tail boom was broken from the fuselage, and the main rotor blades were bent. Following the helicopter's recovery the operator reported to the Safety Board investigator that its engine and control system were examined. The engine was run up. No evidence of any mechanical malfunction was observed. The engine and control system operated normally, according to the operator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58332](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58332-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 490778, built 1979 (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: 490778 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civic Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Destination: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,415 total, 365 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; injuries: minor; medical: class 2 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070903021729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070903021729A), Sep 3, 2007: Hughes 269C, Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 3, 2007, a certified flight instructor was training a private pilot rated helicopter pilot in preparation for a commercial rotorcraft… ## Other investigations on N58332 (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 FTW88LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA080), Mar 15, 1988: Hughes 269C (N58332), Tomball, TX, substantial damage 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.