Hughes 500C (369HS) accident near San Diego, California, February 5, 1984
On February 5, 1984 at about 3:24 am local time, a Hughes 500C (369HS) (helicopter), registered N8319F, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1984 · about 3:24 am local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500C (369HS) 500C (369H
- Registration
- N8319F · registry record · serial 560818S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TAHE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED & THE T/R SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. DURING A SUBSEQUENT ENG TEST, THE ENG WOULD PRODUCE NO MORE THAN 20 PSI TORQUE AT 100% N2. THE FUEL CONTROL & FUEL NOZZLE WERE FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH A BROWN POWDERY SUBSTANCE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,628 hours in all; 2,554 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 42,001 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 3:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:36 am from SAN, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.