# NTSB LAX83LA340: Hughes 269, N8773F, Mesa, AZ, July 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1983, 18:00 local (Jul 16, 1983, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.429248, -111.709663 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4292&lon=-111.7097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA340
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23790/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA340

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR WAS DEMONSTRATING A POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATION TO A DRY RIVER BED, WHICH HE INITIATED AT 500 FEET AGL BY ROLLING OFF THE THROTTLE AND LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE. APRX 5 SECONDS LATER HE OBSERVED A CHANGE IN SOUND AND NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM AT 0. HE CONTINUED TO AUTOROTATE AND OVERSHOT THE SOFT GRAVEL AREA OF THE SOFT RIVER BED AND TOUCHED DOWN IN AN AREA COVERED WITH LARGE ROCKS. THE RIGHT SKID BROKE AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8773F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8773F), registered now, S/N 0097 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269
- Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0097
- Airframe hours: 462
- Engines: LYCOMING HO-360-B1B 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Milton R. Barnes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: P16, MESA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,180 total, 100 in this make and model, 3,807 as pilot in command, 320 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHX, 11 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 19830715068889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830715068889A), Jul 15, 1983: Hughes 269A, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing instruction. Pilot claimed engine failure but no evidence of failure.

## Other investigations on N8773F (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 ATL89LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA199), Aug 19, 1989: Hughes 269A (N8773F), Saluda, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING LIFT-OFF AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
- [NTSB LAX84LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA260), Apr 17, 1984: Hughes 269 (N8773F), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71FBJ38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBJ38), Nov 11, 1970: Hughes 269A (N8773F), No.Muskegon, MI, destroyed

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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