Hughes 269 N9020M

Summary

On 10 March 2018 at about 19:30 local time, a Hughes 269 registered N9020M, operated by Skypro Industries Inc, was involved in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida, United States. One person was 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

10 March 2018 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.3878, -81.5242

Aircraft

Hughes 269

Registration

N9020M

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Skypro Industries Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jacksonville → Jacksonville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA159

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which resulted in ground contact and a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot reported that he entered a practice autorotation and intended to terminate the maneuver to a hover. During the flare phase of the maneuver, he allowed the rotor rpm to decay. He increased collective and subsequently added power with throttle. The nose of the helicopter yawed to the right and simultaneously the fuselage rolled to the left. He applied left pedal, but the left skid struck rising terrain and the helicopter entered dynamic rollover. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor drive system and the tail rotor drive system. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.