# NTSB FTW84LA283: Hughes 369HS, N9124F, Oklahoma City, OK, June 21, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1984, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Oklahoma City, OK
- Location: 35.4676° N, 97.5164° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oklahoma City, OK, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4676&lon=-97.5164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA283
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21378/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA283

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - autorotation - simulated, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - level off - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE PERFORMING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION PLT FAILED TO BRING IN POWER IN TIME TO ARREST THE HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD STRIKING THE TAIL BOOM AND SEVERING IT. THE PLT STATED HIS FAILURE TO ADD POWER WAS DUE TO HIS BEING FATIGUED. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN EIGHT HOURS THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND STATED IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT THAT DAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9124F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 520383S
- Airframe hours: 2800
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 278 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sawyer International Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 15, 1984
- Airport: Clarence E. Page

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,250 total, 26 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 12 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OKC

## 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 19840621062599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840621062599A), Jun 21, 1984: Hughes 369HS, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Applied cyclic and power too late on practice autorotation landing. Rotors cut off tail boom. Blamed fatigue.

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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