Hughes 269B accident near Auburn, CA
On April 11, 2003, a Hughes 269B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Auburn, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 11, 2003
- Place
- Auburn, CA
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.958°N, 121.067°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030426X00576
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 10, 2003, about 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 269B, N16133, collided with terrain about 1 mile south of the Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN), Auburn, California. Heli-Fun, Inc., operated the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was destroyed. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were fatally injured. The local area instructional flight departed AUN about 1615. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness, located about 3 miles northwest of the accident site, saw and heard the helicopter maneuvering over his farm, about 1700. He stated that the engine was running normally, it was just really loud, like it was powered up. He reported that the engine got quiet and the helicopter hovered, powered up again, and then "dropped" into a ravine area northwest of his location. As he was walking back towards his house he heard the helicopter again. He looked back and saw the helicopter had regained some altitude, and was headed back towards the airport. Another witness, located about a mile southwest of the accident site, in a parking lot, stated that he saw the helicopter "really low." His first thoughts were that it was either an air show, or the police department searching for someone. He stated that the helicopter's main rotors were almost perpendicular to the ground. The helicopter looked like it was attempting to turn, but was descending. He further stated that the helicopter had forward momentum, but it appeared it was not getting any lift. The helicopter d
Probable cause
the misjudged flare maneuver by an unknown crewmember during a likely practice autorotation that resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.
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Browse: California · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
