Hughes 269C N1097N

Summary

On 4 December 2000 at about 21:30 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N1097N, operated by Civic Helicopter, was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 December 2000 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlsbad, California, United States

Nearest airport

McClellan-Palomar (CRQ)

Coordinates

33.1300, -117.2991

Aircraft

Hughes 269C

Registration

N1097N

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Civic Helicopter

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA053

Nobody was injured.

The CFI's inadequate supervision and failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a practice autorotation. A contributing factor was the student's improper in-flight planning/decision.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was for the certified flight instructor (CFI) to evaluate the skill level of the second pilot, and to provide any needed instruction. The CFI assigned the second pilot the task of performing an autorotation to a landing. During the approach the second pilot, who was handling the flight controls, was a little short of the desired touchdown mark and permitted the main rotor rpm to decrease. During the hard touchdown a rotor blade chopped off the tail boom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.