# NTSB LAX79FA020: Hughes 500DH, N501DH, Mecca, CA, December 27, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 27, 1978
- Place: Mecca, CA · MECCA, CA
- Location: 33.5765° N, 116.0647° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mecca, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5765&lon=-116.0647&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138084
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4346  78/12/27   MECCA,CA            HUGHES 500DH        CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0950                    N501DH              PX-  0  0  0  EXPERIMENTATION           54, 11858 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2760 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          THERMAL,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: TAIL BOOMS/PYLONS/CONES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- GENERAL DISINTEGRATION.ONE CITRUS TREE.L PEDAL INPUT 33% TRAVEL,TEST REQUIRED 25%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N501DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501DH-1979-02-01), registration cancelled 1979-02-01, S/N 950002D, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500DH
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19781227045239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781227045239A), Dec 27, 1978: Hughes 369HE, Mecca, CA, Destroyed. General disintegration. One citrus tree.l pedal input 33 travel,trequired 25 .

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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