# NTSB ANC80DA083: Hughes 500C, N9052F, Sitka, AK, August 12, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 12, 1980
- Place: Sitka, AK · SITKA, AK
- Location: 57.0531° N, 135.3300° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sitka, AK, within about 30 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0531&lon=-135.3300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129090
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC80DA083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2356  80/8/12  NR.SITKA,AK           HUGHES 500C         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 4500
        TIME - 0835                    N9052F              PX-  0  0  4  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SITKA,AK                    ROUND ROBIN & RETURN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- LANDING AREA IS RIM OF VOLCANO
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9052F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9052F), registered now, S/N 1290225S, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500C
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800812040919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800812040919A), Aug 12, 1980: Hughes 369HS, Sitka, AK, Substantial damage. Hard landing from unchecked high sink rate on approach. Possible downdraft or settling with power. Over gross.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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