# NTSB MIA90LA076: Hughes 300C, N58275, Vero Beach, FL, March 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1990, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at VERO BEACH RGNL (VRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4180&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32628
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32628/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA076

## 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.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - autorotation - performed
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND THE RATED HELICOPTER PILOT WERE PRACTICING TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATIONS. AFTER A LANDING AND GROUND SLIDE, THEY BOTH NOTED VIBRATIONS, THEN SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE HELICOPTER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD STRUCK THE TAILBOOM AND SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT. THE WIND AT 1450 CST WAS FROM 140 DEG AT 16 GUSTING 22 KTS.

## 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 300C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1190849
- Airframe hours: 3467
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Safety Int'L
- Registered owner: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 25, 1990, 73 hours before
- Departed: VRB
- Destination: VRB
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach, runway 11L, 3,504 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 327 in this make and model, 550 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB

## 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 19900302003509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900302003509A), Mar 2, 1990: Hughes 269C, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Tail rotor struck ground on practice auto rotation landing. Impact severed tailboom.

## 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 MIA86LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA074), Feb 12, 1986: Hughes 269C (N58275), Vero Beach, FL, 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.

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