Hughes 269B accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, February 8, 1984
On February 8, 1984 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Hughes 269B (helicopter), registered N9509F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a personal 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
- February 8, 1984 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B · all 269Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9509F · no longer on the register · serial 1070330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON THE RETURN PORTION OF A ROUND TRIP FROM LAS VEGAS TO MESQUITE, NV. & BACK. WHILE CRUISING AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER & HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING ON DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN. AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL, HE FLARED, THEN THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE APPLIED COLLECTIVE TOO SOON & THIS RESULTED IN THE HARD LANDING. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT ONLY 1 2/3 GAL OF FUEL WAS REMAINING. ALSO, AN EXAM OF THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT BULB REVEALED THAT IT WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE FILAMENT HAD STRETCHED.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 111 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1983; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Poss Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 4:30 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from LAS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.