# NTSB LAX83FA416: Hughes 369D, N5007G, Shandon, CA, August 31, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1983, 17:30 local (Aug 31, 1983, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Shandon, CA
- Coordinates: 35.630706, -120.260543 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6307&lon=-120.2605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA416
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23499/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA416

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - altitude - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING DURING AUTOROTATION AFTER THE PLT REPORTEDLY HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AT ABOUT 50 FT AGLABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED AT LONG BEACH AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND TEST RUN IN THE ACFT. THE ENGINE WAS ALSO PLACED IN A TEST CELL AND CHECKED. RESULTS OF THESE TESTS INDICATED THE ENGINE MET THE SPECIFICATIONS OFA NEW ENGINE. ALL TESTS ON THE ACFT AND ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE SATISFACTORY AND NOTHING WAS NOTED TO PRECLUDE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ACFT AND ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5007G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 811038D
- Airframe hours: 232
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 350 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Snoopy Aero, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 11, 1983, 27 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,452 total, 38 in this make and model, 4,316 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRB, 10 nm away

## 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 19830830048709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830830048709A), Aug 30, 1983: Hughes 369D, Shandon, CA, Substantial damage. Reported power loss at 50 feet AGL cruise. Chopped off tailboom on hard landing. Cause of power interruption unknown.

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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