# NTSB LAX83LA019: Hughes 269C, N1105B, Gonzales, CA, October 23, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1982, 17:00 local (Oct 23, 1982, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Gonzales, CA
- Coordinates: 36.540073, -121.389045 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5401&lon=-121.3890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 22, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70846
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70846/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA019

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE RETURNED TO LAND, HE ELECTED TO PRACTICE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD AND HIT THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1105B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1030
- Airframe hours: 75
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnny Violini
- Registered owner: Johnny Violini
- Departed: GONZALES, CA
- Destination: GONZALES, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 154 total, 128 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 167 °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 19821022054969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821022054969A), Oct 22, 1982: Hughes 269C, Gonzales, CA, Substantial damage. Made hard landing from practice autorotation. Main rotors cut off tail boom.

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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