NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CEN23LA048
Registry · N668M
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
HUGHES 369HS
Year of manufacture
1971 · 51 years old at event
TCDS
H3WE · MD HELICOPTERS INC (MDHI)
Engine
ALLISON 250 SER 250HP (250 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19820709
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A8D304
Registrant of record
B LAIRD LTD
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
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
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or 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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