# NTSB SEA02LA172: Hughes 500, N9263F, Carnation, WA, September 10, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 2002, 17:40 local (Sep 10, 2002, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Carnation, WA
- Coordinates: 47.633335, -121.916664
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6333&lon=-121.9167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55672
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55672/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA172

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed power application during a practice power recovery autorotation.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, maneuvering
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The private pilot stated that he was practicing power recovery autorotations to an open field.  He said that during the second practice autorotation, he inadvertently delayed adding power during the flare, and the helicopter touched down in a nose-high attitude.  During the hard landing, the main rotor blades contacted the helicopter's tail boom resulting in substantial damage

## Factual narrative

On September 9, 2002, about 1740 Pacific daylight time, a high skid equipped Hughes 500 (369 HC) helicopter, N9263F, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a hard landing following a practice autorotation near Carnation, Washington.  The certified private pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured.  The helicopter is owned by Conner Homes of Bellevue, Washington, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The flight originated from Issaquah, Washington, approximately one hour prior to the accident.

In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) filed by the pilot, dated September 11, the pilot supplied a statement about the accident.  The pilot said that he was practicing power recovery autorotations to an open field near Carnation.  He said that during the second practice autorotation, he inadvertently delayed adding power during the flare, and the helicopter touched down in a nose-high attitude.  During the hard landing, the main rotor blades contacted the helicopter's tail boom resulting in substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9263F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9263F-2020-07-27), registration cancelled 2020-07-27, S/N 450736S, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hughes 500
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 450736
- Airframe hours: 2785
- Engines: Allison C 20-B 375 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles F. Conner
- Registered owner: Conner Homes Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2001, 40 hours before
- Departed: 92WA, Issaquah, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 805 total, 685 in this make and model, 805 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 210 knots, gusting 3
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KRTN, 15 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 20020909024639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020909024639A), Sep 9, 2002: Hughes 369HS, Carnation, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Practicing the second power recovery autorotation of the day, the pilot was slow in rolling on throttle for the power recovery. Aircraft contacted the…

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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