# NTSB FTW80FQA36: Hughes 369D, N58431, Albuquerque, NM, July 7, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 7, 1980
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FQA36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQA36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2608   80/7/7    ALBUQUERQUE,NM      HUGHES 369D         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1015                    N58431              PX-  0  0  0  CHECK                     32, 1700 TOTAL HOURS, ALL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58431](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58431), registered now, S/N 1290647D, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, 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 19800707026379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800707026379A), Jul 7, 1980: Hughes 369D, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Engine flamed out on autorotation practice. Made crash landing due to low rotor speed. Cause flame out unknown.

## Other investigations on N58431 (3)

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.

- [NTSB CEN21LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA139), Feb 26, 2021: Hughes 369 (N58431), Kaufman, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during low-level maneuvering.
- [NTSB LAX05CA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA263), Aug 8, 2005: Hughes 369D (N58431), North Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper use of the cyclic flight control and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
- [NTSB LAX99TA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99TA088), Jan 31, 1999: McDonnell Douglas 369D (N58431), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly judge the landing flare maneuver during a practice autorotative landing resulting in a hard landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.