Hughes HU-269-A accident near Hamilton, Alabama, July 12, 2002
On July 12, 2002 at about 2:00 am local time, a Hughes HU-269-A (helicopter), registered N911LH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Alabama (Marrion County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of flight controls that resulted in an improper flare and a hard landing during a practice autorotation. A factor was the loss of rotor rpm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2002 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Alabama · Marrion County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes HU-269-A
- Registration
- N911LH · no longer on the register · serial 1270737
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the intent of the flight was to demonstrate emergency procedures. The flight instructor demonstrated several traffic patterns and approaches. The flight instructor stated that while demonstrating an autorotation he allowed the rotor rpm to deteriorate, the helicopter lost lift, and subsequently collided with the ground.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,330 as pilot in command; 340 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,845.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2002; 33.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HI0360BIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAB Hamilton AL at 11:10 pm
- Destination: HAB Hamilton AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.30 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from ANB, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.