LAX86LA188

Factual narrative

A HUGHES 269 WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER TURNING LEFT INTO A 20 KT TAILWIND CONDITION. THE PLT INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ENG WAS RUN ON A ENG TEST STAND AND NO DEFICIENTCIES WERE FOUND. A FUEL SAMPLE WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFIED PARAMETERS. AC 61-13B STATES 'HOVERING TURNS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN WINDS STRONG ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE SUFFICIENT AFT CYCLIC CONTROL TO MAINTAIN THE HELICOPTER ON SELECTED SURFACE REFERENCE POINT WHEN HEADED DOWNWIND. CHECK THE HELICOPTER FLIGHT MANUAL FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS LIMITATION.' 'HOVERING POWER REQUIRES A LARGE AMOUNT OF LEFT PEDAL TO MAINTAIN HEADING. SUFFICIENT LEFT PEDAL IN EXCESS OF THIS AMOUNT MUST BE AVAILABLE TO PREVENT AN UNCONTROLLED TURN TO THE RIGHT ONCE THE TURN HAS BEGUN.' THE OPERATORS MANUAL FOR THE HUGHES MODEL 269C STATES THAT 'CONTROLLABILITY HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE ADEQUATE IN 20 MPH (17.4 KTS) WINDS FROM ANY DIRECTION.' THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 080 DEG AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 29 KTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12