Hughes 269A N8873F

Summary

On 16 March 1995 at about 18:57 local time, a Hughes 269A registered N8873F was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 March 1995 at 18:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Van Nuys, California, United States

Nearest airport

Van Nuys (VNY)

Coordinates

34.1896, -118.4904

Aircraft

Hughes 269A

Registration

N8873F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA136

1 person had minor injuries.

the operation of the helicopter with improper adjustment of the landing gear and main rotor dampers due to the inadequate maintenance inspection of the helicopter by maintenance personnel and an inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED GROUND RESONANCE AFTER LANDING. THE HELICOPTER HAD TOUCHED DOWN LIGHTLY ON ITS LANDING GEAR SYSTEM AND BEGAN TO OSCILLATE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO OSCILLATE UNTIL ONE SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER LANDING GEAR STRUCTURE FAILED. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ON ITS SIDE. THE FOUR LANDING GEAR DAMPERS AND TWO MAIN ROTOR DAMPERS WERE FOUND OUT OF LIMITS. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER A 50-HOUR INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. DURING THE INSPECTION, THE LANDING GEAR DAMPERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR PROPER EXTENSION. THE LANDING GEAR AND MAIN ROTOR DAMPERS SHOULD ALSO BE CHECKED BY THE PILOT DURING HIS PREFLIGHT PREPARATION OF THE HELICOPTER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.