NTSB CEN23LA048 — 2022-11-23 · Oxford, Colorado, United States

Current FAA registration · N668M

Make / Model: HUGHES 369HS
Year of manufacture: 1971 · 51 years old at event
Engine: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP (250 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19820709
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A8D304

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N668M Hughes 369HS None

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Designated examiner
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Incorrect use/operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_CEN23LA048.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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