# NTSB NYC86LA204: Hughes 369HS, N369B, Norwood, MA, August 10, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1986, 11:09 local (15:09 UTC)
- Place: Norwood, MA
- Location: 42.1905° N, 71.1729° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NORWOOD MEML (OWD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1905&lon=-71.1729&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30400
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86LA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30400/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA204

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS PRACTICING AN AUTOROTATION FROM A CLOSED TRAFFIC PATTERN TO THE NUMBERS ON RWY 35. HE RPRTD THAT HE MADE A NORMAL FLARE & POWER RECOVERY. HOWEVER, AS THE HELICOPTER WAS NOSING FORWARD OUT OF THE FLARE, THE PLT HEARD A NOISE & FELT A PERCUSSION FROM THE REAR OF THE ACFT. THE HELICOPTER YAWED & LANDED HARD. AN EXAM REVEALED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD STRUCK & SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N369B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3405809
- Airframe hours: 9805
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 425 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Burke & Burke
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 13, 1986
- Departed: SHERBORN, MA
- Airport: OWD, Norwood, runway 35, 3,993 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 316 total, 133 in this make and model, 253 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OWD

## 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 19860810038209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860810038209A), Aug 10, 1986: Hughes 369HS, Norwood, MA, Substantial damage. The helicopter landed hard during autorotation practice. Rotor blade struck 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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