# NTSB LAX91LA152: Hughes 269C, N8656F, Honolulu, HI, March 30, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1991, 12:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Honolulu, HI
- Coordinates: 21.349325, -157.879745 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3493&lon=-157.8797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27154/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA152

## Probable cause

THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBSERVE PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE HELICOPTER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - performance data - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi)
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command(cfi)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command(cfi)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ENTERED A NORMAL PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. HE NOTED ROTOR IN THE GREEN, 55 KIAS, AND THE AIRCRAFT IN TRIM. JUST PRIOR TO THE ALTITUDE WHERE HE WOULD HAVE BEGUN A DECELERATION, ABOUT 50-100 FEET AGL, HE NOTED THE AIRSPEED HAD BLED TO ABOUT 20 KIAS AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEVELOPED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. HE ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A POWER RECOVERY, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND LANDED HARD. THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN LANDED HARD, THEN ROLLED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED WHERE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RECOVERY WAS WITHIN A FLIGHT AVOIDANCE AREA, WHICH PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM PERFORMING REMEDIAL ACTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8656F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8656F-2000-06-29), registration cancelled 2000-06-29, S/N 1170645 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1170645
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-01A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hawaii International Hel.
- Registered owner: Hawaii International Hel.
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,575 total, 712 in this make and model, 2,974 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 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 19910330008049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910330008049A), Mar 30, 1991: Hughes 269C, Honolulu, HI, Destroyed. CFI was demostrating an auto rotation with power recovery but fell through on power recovery. Impacted tail first.

## Other investigations on N8656F (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 ATL81ILQ12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81ILQ12), Jan 17, 1981: Hughes 300C (N8656F), Muray, KY, 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.