# NTSB SEA03LA151: Hughes 269C, N53KF, Snohomish, WA, July 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2003, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Snohomish, WA - Coordinates: 47.908054, -122.105278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9081&lon=-122.1053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57559/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA151 ## Probable cause The dual students failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the go-around from a simulated autorotational flare, and the instructor pilot's failure to take adequate remedial action to keep the dual student from allowing the aircraft to impact the terrain. ## Analysis The student was executing a practice power-off autorotation, and during the go-around from the simulated landing flare he applied too much aft cyclic. The instructor, who was simultaneously applying a small amount of up collective to arrest a slight sink, did not take adequate remedial action to keep the student (who is a high-time fixed wing pilot) from applying too much aft cyclic. This resulted in the tail rotor of the helicopter impacting the ground, followed immediately by a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Soon thereafter, the helicopter began to spin, and the instructor pilot took over total control and executed an emergency landing. After the aircraft's engine was shut down, it was determined that there was damage to both the tail rotor and tail boom. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2003, approximately 1215 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N53KF, collided with the terrain during a go-around from a practice autorotation near Snohomish, Washington. Neither the certified flight instructor or his student were injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by Snohomish Flying Service, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight, which departed Harvey Field, Snohomish, Washington, about 60 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. According to the instructor pilot, the student was executing a practice power-off autorotation, and during the go-around from the simulated landing flare, he applied too much aft cyclic. The remedial actions of the instructor, who was simultaneously applying a small amount of up collective to arrest a slight sink, were not sufficient to keep the student (who is a high-time fixed wing pilot) from applying so much aft cyclic that the tail rotor of the helicopter impacted the ground. Immediately after the tail rotor hit the ground, there was a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Soon thereafter, the helicopter began to spin, and the instructor pilot took over total control and executed an emergency landing. After the aircraft's engine was shut down, it was determined that there was damage to both the tail rotor and tail boom. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - clearance - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53KF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53KF), registered now, S/N S1738, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 269C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51738 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Snohomish Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2003, 61 hours before - Departed: S43, Snohomish, WA - Destination: S43 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 75; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 12, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 17,347 total, 788 in this make and model, 17,124 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 30, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20030724017849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030724017849A), Jul 24, 2003: Hughes 269C, Snohomish, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing 180 degree practice autorotation (termination with power), the instructor allowed the student to over flare on the power recovery… 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.