# NTSB LAX84FA371: Hughes 269B, N9400F, Palos Verde Est, CA, June 28, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1984, 13:19 local (20:19 UTC)
- Place: Palos Verde Est, CA
- Coordinates: 33.770149, -118.340904 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7701&lon=-118.3409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA371
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23969/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA371

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - failure,total (cause)
  - rotor system,tail rotor hub counterweight - separation (cause)
  - rotor system,tail rotor hub - separation (cause)
  - rotor system,tail rotor hub pitch link - overload (cause)
  - maintenance,compliance with ad - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - information insufficient, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,manufacturer, manufacturer (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - autorotation - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

GND WITNESSES OBSVD HELICOPTER INTO NORMAL TURN AT 500 FT AGL FOLLOWED BY A VIOLENT RT TURN. DURING THE VIOLENT TURN THE TAIL ROTOR ASSY SEPARATED & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONED UPWARDS. THE HELICOPTER WENT INTO A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT & CRASHED. WRECKAGE EXAM DISCLOSE THE TAIL ROTOR HUB TEETERING FORK BOLT & BOTH PITCH CHG LNKS SUSTAINED OVLD FRACTURES. THE FORK ASSY SHOWED EXTENSIVE BLADE IMPACT MARKS. BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES TRAIL EDGES EXHIBITED ABRASIVE SIGNATURES & WERE DELAMINATED. THE TAIL SKID SEPARATED & WAS FRACTURED @  MIDSPAN & ITS LT SIDE SHOWED TAIL ROTOR BLADE RUB MARKS. METAL & CHEM ANALYSIS DISCLSD THE EPOXY BONDING MATERIAL WAS WEAKENED BY A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE. BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE XRAYED AND PAINTED 25 FLT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THE PILOT HAD FLOWN A HELICOPTER WITHIN 11 MONTHS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT.  THE PLT HAD ACCUMULATED 50 HELICOPTER FLT HRS, 15 OF WHICH WERE AS PIC.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9400F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9400F-1994-06-21), registration cancelled 1994-06-21, S/N 1240145 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 124-0145
- Airframe hours: 4246
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: The Geradin Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, May 28, 1984, 24 hours before
- Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA
- Airport: TOA, Torrance

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TOA, 5 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 19840628027589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840628027589A), Jun 28, 1984: Hughes 269B, Palos Verde Est, CA, Destroyed. Tail rotor blades struck tail skid in flight, causing uncontrolled descent. Tail rotor trailing edge delaminated.

## Other investigations on N9400F (1)

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 LAX73FUA31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUA31), Feb 9, 1973: Hughes 269B (N9400F), Torrance, CA, substantial damage

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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