Hughes 269A accident near Killeen, Texas, April 23, 2008
On April 23, 2008 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N9064N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Killeen, Texas. 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 failure to maintain main rotor RPM and a safe rate of descent during the autorotation. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2008 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Killeen, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N9064N · no longer on the register · serial 96-0657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While practicing an autorotation maneuver, the pilot rolled the throttle back on and began a power recovery before reducing the throttle to continue the autorotation. The helicopter's airspeed decreased to approximately 40 knots at 300 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot attempted to go-around but was unable to increase the rotor RPM (rotations per minute.) The helicopter continued to sink as the flight instructor attempted to increase power and reduce the sink rate. The flight instructor lowered the helicopter's nose in an attempt to increase airspeed. At 50 feet AGL the pilot reported that a gust of wind decreased the helicopter's airspeed further resulting in an increased sink rate. The flight instructor flared the helicopter as it approached the ground. The helicopter contacted the ground and rolled coming to rest on its side.
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
What happened, in order
- Autorotation Loss of control in flight defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Prop/rotor parameters › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 515 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,327 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2008; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-BIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILE Killeen TX at 9:45 am
- Destination: ILE Killeen TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from ILE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.