Hughes 269 accident near Mesa, Arizona, April 17, 1984
On April 17, 1984 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Hughes 269 (helicopter), registered N8773F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 17, 1984 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269 · all 269s on the register
- Registration
- N8773F · registry record · serial 62-0097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED HARD DURING AN AUTOROTATION DEMONSTRATION BY A CFI. DURING LANDING THE ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL ANDTHE ACFT WENT INTO GROUND RESONANCE. THE CFI SAID HE THOUGHT THE ACFT LOST TRANSITIONAL LIFT. HE RECOMMENDED NOT PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS ON A DAY WITH VARIABLE AND GUSTY WINDS.
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: 1,265 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 957 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 770 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P16 Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from P16, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8773F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.