# NTSB NYC81DHA05: Hughes 300C, N58281, Whitehouse, NJ, November 25, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 25, 1980
- Place: Whitehouse, NJ · WHITEHOUSE, NJ
- Location: 40.6184° N, 74.7443° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Whitehouse, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6184&lon=-74.7443&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 31, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81DHA05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81DHA05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3045  80/11/25   WHITEHOUSE,NJ       HUGHES 300C         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1115                    N58281              PX-  0  0  0  POWER/PIPELINE            AGE 32, 6300 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          POTTSTOWN,NJ                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WATER IN FUEL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     290
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           12                                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR CUT TAIL BOOM.WIND GUSTING 20K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58281](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58281), registered now, S/N 1180734, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 300C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-D1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-d1a) (registry code 41893, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19801125071429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801125071429A), Nov 25, 1980: Hughes 269C, Whitehouse, NJ, Substantial damage. Engine lost rpms. Made hard autorotaion landing. Found water in fuel.

## Other investigations on N58281 (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 BFO89LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA078), Aug 31, 1989: Hughes 269C (N58281), Parkersburg, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT USE (MOVEMENT) OF THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL DURING ENGINE OPERATION BEFORE SHUTDOWN, AND A SUBSEQUENT LIFT-OFF, LOSS OF CONTROL, ROLL OVER, AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.

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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