# NTSB SEA94LA166: Hughes 369HS, N9029F, West Jordan, UT, July 3, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1994, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: West Jordan, UT
- Coordinates: 40.599948, -111.959587 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5999&lon=-111.9596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41965/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA166

## Probable cause

THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER DESCENT RATE AND HIS DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION.

## Analysis

DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, A HIGH DESCENT RATE DEVELOPED.  THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ADDED POWER BUT THE HELICOPTER STILL LANDED HARD ENOUGH TO SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE THE HELICOPTER.

## Factual narrative

On July 3, 1994, at about  1430 hours mountain daylight time,  a Hughes 369HS helicopter, N9029F, made a hard landing during a practice autorotation at Salt Lake City Airport #2.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight.  The helicopter was substantially damaged, but neither the pilot or the flight instructor were injured.

The pilot reported that he was preparing for a part 135 check ride and was practicing autorotations with the company check pilot.  An autorotation was started at about 500 to 600 feet above the ground.  At about 100 to 150 feet above the ground, the instructor pilot realized that they were descending too fast.

He added power to slow their descent but the helicopter landed hard, damaging the skids and the tail boom.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9029F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9029F-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N 890105E (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HE](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369he) (registry code 4470720) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 890105E
- Airframe hours: 7785
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Scenic Helicopters
- Registered owner: H & W Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 23, 1994, 32 hours before
- Airport: U42, Salt Lake City Muni #2, runway 34, 6,098 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,084 total, 74 in this make and model, 986 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19940703017819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940703017819A), Jul 3, 1994: Hughes 369HS, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. Practicing autorotation to landing failed timely use collective. CFI acted late. Impact damaged skid and tailboom.

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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