# NTSB LAX81FUJ62: Hughes 269C, N58210, Cottonwood, AZ, May 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 10, 1981
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ · COTTONWOOD, AZ
- Location: 34.7508° N, 111.9840° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cottonwood, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7508&lon=-111.9840&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126087
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FUJ62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUJ62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0995  81/5/10  NR.COTTONWOOD,AZ      HUGHES 269C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 472
        TIME - 1445                    N58210              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 381 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SEDONA,AZ                   PRESCOTT,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
        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                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DECREASED A/S TO CONT CLIMB.RAISED COLLECTIVE WHEN UNABLE TO CLIMB.ACFT STARTED SPINNING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58210](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58210-1984-04-23), registration cancelled 1984-04-23, S/N 1270662 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19810510022589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810510022589A), May 10, 1981: Hughes 269C, Cottonwood, AZ, Destroyed. Unable to clear ridge. Lost control turning downwind to lower terrain. Entered "settling with power" regime.

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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