|
Location:
|
Durango, Colorado
|
Accident Number:
|
CEN26LA181
|
|
Date & Time:
|
May 7, 2026, 12:30 Local
|
Registration:
|
N926ES
|
|
Aircraft:
|
Hughes 369HS
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Defining Event:
|
Hard landing
|
Injuries:
|
2 None
|
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
While conducting an instructional flight, the flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was performing practice autorotations in the helicopter. He stated that wind conditions were light and variable. During the accident practice straight-in autorotation, the pilot receiving instruction stated that he overshot the intended landing point and began slowing the helicopter. As the helicopter slowed to about 30 knots, he then lowered the nose to regain airspeed. He reported that the rotor RPM was on the low side of the green arc and that the airspeed was about 60 knots. During the flare, about 10 ft, both the pilot and flight instructor simultaneously raised the collective in attempt to cushion the landing. However, the helicopter continued to sink and landed hard. The skids collapsed and the helicopter slid about 100 ft before it came to rest upright on the taxiway. The helicopter’s tail boom and one of the main rotor blades separated during the accident sequence. Both the instructor and pilot stated that the wind had shifted opposite to the direction the windsock was indicating at the time of the accident. Wind recorded at the time of the accident was light and variable at 4 knots.
The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction and the pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Findings
Factual Information
History of Flight
Pilot Information
|
Certificate:
|
Commercial; Flight instructor
|
Age:
|
61,Male
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
Single-engine land
|
Seat Occupied:
|
Right
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Restraint Used:
|
3-point
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
Yes
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 2 With waivers/limitations
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
February 20, 2026
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
Yes
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
October 1, 2025
|
|
Flight Time:
|
10634 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9006.8 hours (Total, this make and model), 10577 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 63.7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8.9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3.2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
|
Pilot Information
|
Certificate:
|
Commercial; Flight instructor
|
Age:
|
31,Male
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
None
|
Seat Occupied:
|
Left
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Restraint Used:
|
4-point
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
Yes
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
Helicopter; Instrument helicopter
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
May 13, 2025
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
No
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
September 9, 2025
|
|
Flight Time:
|
(Estimated) 453 hours (Total, all aircraft), 140 hours (Total, this make and model), 368 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 96 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 37 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
|
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
|
Aircraft Make:
|
Hughes
|
Registration:
|
N926ES
|
|
Model/Series:
|
369HS
|
Aircraft Category:
|
Helicopter
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
1974
|
Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
Normal
|
Serial Number:
|
940641S
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
High skid
|
Seats:
|
4
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
February 1, 2026 Annual
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
2550 lbs
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
|
1 Turbo shaft
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
6581.6 Hrs as of last inspection
|
Engine Manufacturer:
|
ALLISON
|
|
ELT:
|
Not installed
|
Engine Model/Series:
|
250 SER 400HP
|
|
Registered Owner:
|
ROYAL HELICOPTER SERVICES LLC
|
Rated Power:
|
420 Horsepower
|
|
Operator:
|
Colorado Highland Helicopters
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
|
None
|
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
|
Conditions at Accident Site:
|
Visual (VMC)
|
Condition of Light:
|
Day
|
|
Observation Facility, Elevation:
|
KDRO,6629 ft msl
|
Distance from Accident Site:
|
1 Nautical Miles
|
|
Observation Time:
|
12:00 Local
|
Direction from Accident Site:
|
210°
|
|
Lowest Cloud Condition:
|
Clear
|
Visibility
|
10 miles
|
|
Lowest Ceiling:
|
None
|
Visibility (RVR):
|
|
|
Wind Speed/Gusts:
|
/ None
|
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
|
None / None
|
|
Wind Direction:
|
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
|
N/A / N/A
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
|
30.18 inches Hg
|
Temperature/Dew Point:
|
14°C / -10°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
|
No Obscuration; No Precipitation
|
|
|
Departure Point:
|
Durango, CO (00C)
|
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
|
None
|
|
Destination:
|
Durango, CO
|
Type of Clearance:
|
None
|
|
Departure Time:
|
11:30 Local
|
Type of Airspace:
|
Class E
|
Airport Information
|
Airport:
|
DURANGO-LA PLATA COUNTY DRO
|
Runway Surface Type:
|
|
|
Airport Elevation:
|
6689 ft msl
|
Runway Surface Condition:
|
Dry
|
|
Runway Used:
|
|
IFR Approach:
|
None
|
|
Runway Length/Width:
|
|
VFR Approach/Landing:
|
Simulated forced landing
|
Wreckage and Impact Information
|
Crew Injuries:
|
2 None
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
N/A
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
N/A
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
2 None
|
Latitude, Longitude:
|
37.151528,-107.75377
|
Administrative Information
|
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Maxon, Cory
|
|
Additional Participating Persons:
|
Matt Blad; FAA; Salt Lake City, UT
|
|
Original Publish Date:
|
September 17, 2026
|
|
Last Revision Date:
|
|
Investigation Class:
|
Class 4
|
|
Note:
|
The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
|
|
Investigation Docket:
|
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202951
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