# NTSB LAX89LA309: Hughes 269C, N58164, Mesa, AZ, March 30, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1989, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.429828, -111.710708 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4298&lon=-111.7107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26500
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA309
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26500/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA309

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI).

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, dual student
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) RPRTD THAT WHILE PRACTICING AN AUTOROTATION, THE STUDENT PLT DELAYED IN FLARING THE HELICOPTER. IT THEN TOUCHED DOWN HARD AS THE STUDENT APPLIED EXCESSIVE AFT CYCLIC.   SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58164](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58164-2014-11-25), registration cancelled 2014-11-25, S/N 940348 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 940348
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Heli Services
- Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,020 total, 1,560 in this make and model, 1,890 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890330005039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890330005039A), Mar 30, 1989: Hughes 269C, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Student failed to arrest descent on practice autorotation. On impact applied aft cyclic. Rotors cut off tail boom.

## Other investigations on N58164 (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 LAX92LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA383), Sep 12, 1992: Hughes 269C (N58164), Rialto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT/PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.