# NTSB MKC83LA149: Hughes 369HS, N500PA, Springfield, MO, July 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1983, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Springfield, MO
- Location: 37.2457° N, 93.3886° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SPRINGFIELD-BRANSON NTL (SGF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2457&lon=-93.3886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC83LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33439/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA149

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - precautionary landing - simulated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD MADE A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION WITH A FULL POWER RECOVERY & WAS LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, TAIL 1ST, AND ROCKED FORWARD. THE HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT, BUT THE MAIN ROTORS STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM AS THE ACFT ROCKED FORWARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N500PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500PA-2020-04-02), registration cancelled 2020-04-02, S/N 840629S, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 840629S
- Airframe hours: 1935
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 278 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pro Flight Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Pipe Fabricators, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1983, 34 hours before
- Airport: SGF, Springfield Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,596 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10,396 as pilot in command, 229 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SGF

## 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 19830709029979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830709029979A), Jul 9, 1983: Hughes 369HS, Springfield, MO, Substantial damage. Touched down hard from a practice autorotation and full powr recovery. Rotors chopped off the tail boom.

## Other investigations on N500PA (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 FTW76DPM26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DPM26), Jun 7, 1976: Hughes 369HS (N500PA), Vinita, OK, 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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