Hughes 369HS N668M

Summary

On 23 November 2022 at about 20:07 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N668M, operated by Colorado Highland Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Oxford, Colorado, 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

23 November 2022 at 20:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Oxford, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Durango-la Plata County (DRO)

Coordinates

37.1536, -107.7518

Aircraft

Hughes 369HS

Registration

N668M

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Colorado Highland Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA048

Nobody was injured.

The designated pilot examiner’s failure to maintain a proper descent during a practice 180° autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a checkride with an applicant pilot, the designated pilot examiner was demonstrating a 180° autorotation. The applicant pilot reported the descent was too quick, the examiner flared too low, and the helicopter experienced a hard landing. An airport surveillance video showed the helicopter descend at a rapid rate and impact the runway. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor system. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.