No fatalities
9 Mar 2023: HUGHES 269A — A & J Aviation Services LLC. — Titusville, FL
On 9 Mar 2023, a HUGHES 269A operated by A & J Aviation Services LLC. was involved in an aviation accident near Titusville, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom.
— NTSB Determination
Contributing factors
PilotSimulated malf/failureCapability exceededDescent rate — Not attained/maintained