# NTSB MIA86LA074: Hughes 269C, N58275, Vero Beach, FL, February 12, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1986, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.639507, -80.389259 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6395&lon=-80.3893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31574/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA074

## Sequence of events

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

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - delayed, dual student (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

DURING AUTO-ROTATION PRACTICE, THE CFI PASSED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER TO THE STUDENT PLT. AT APRX 10 FT ABOVE THE GROUND, THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO APPLY CORRECTIVE ACTION WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE ACFT WAS GOING TO MAKE A HARD LANDING. THE ATTEMPT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. THE CFI STATED THAT PERHAPS HE HAD WAITED A LITTLE TOO LONG BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REASSUME CONTROL OF THE ACFT FROM THE STUDENT PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58275](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58275-1990-06-01), registration cancelled 1990-06-01, S/N 1190849 (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: 1190849
- Airframe hours: 1576
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 4, 1986, 8 hours before
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach, runway 29, 2,650 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,302 total, 86 in this make and model, 1,898 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 1 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 19860212002639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860212002639A), Feb 12, 1986: Hughes 269C, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Instructor assumed control too late to stop a hard landing and damage to the tail boom during autorotation practice

## Other investigations on N58275 (2)

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 MIA90FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA117), May 9, 1990: Hughes 269C (N58275), Fort Pierce, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE AUTOROTATION BY THE DUAL STUDENT (ATP), HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, AND INADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION. A FACTOR RELATED…
- [NTSB MIA90LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA076), Mar 2, 1990: Hughes 300C (N58275), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND/INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AFTER LANDING FROM A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.

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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