Hughes 269A N42426

Summary

On 28 February 1983 at about 17:13 local time, a Hughes 269A registered N42426 was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

28 February 1983 at 17:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 269A

Registration

N42426

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX83FA121

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF FLT WAS TO TAKE AERIAL PHOTOGRPHS OF A BUSINESS AGENCY NEAR THE CRASH SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED ORBITING A PARKING LOT IN A RIGHT HAND PATTERN AT 150-300 FT AGL. AFTER 2-3 ORBITS IT APPEARED TO HOVER BEFORE PITCHING NOSE DOWN TO A NEAR INVERTED POSITION, FOLLOWED BY A STEEP DESCENT UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. FOLOWING THE PITCH OVER, PIECES OF THE TAIL AND/OR M/R BLADES SEPARATED. THERE WAS LEADING EDGE M/R DAMAGE & PAINT TRANSFER CONSISTENT WITH TAIL BOOM STRIKE PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. THE MAIN ROTOR & HUB ASS'Y WAS LOCATED ABOUT 30 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.