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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 18, 1984 · Hughes 369D · N58369

Mesa, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 18, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Mesa, AZ
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Tail Number
N58369
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX84FA405

THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM DISCONNECT, AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & SUBSEQUENT INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN IN A HILLY DESERT AREA. THIS WAS THE THIRD & LAST IN A PLANNED SERIES OF MARKETING DEMO FLTS CONDUCTED FOR THREE USMC OFFICERS. DURING THE POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF OVER-RUNNING CLUTCH COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT THE CAGES & SPRAGS WERE BOUND UP IN THEIR NORMAL ENGAGED POSITIONS. TWO OF THE THREE DRAG STRIPS WERE OBSERVED TO HAVE ABRASION SIGNATURES ACROSS THEIR ENTIRE WIDTH OF .07 INCHES; THE ABRASION AREAS GENERALLY MATCHED THE GEOMETRY OF THE ADJACENT BALL BEARING RACE. EXAMINATION OF ENGINEERING DRAWINGS FOR THE CLUTCH REVEALED THAT FOR THE DRAG STRIP TO CONTACT THE ADJACENT BEARING RACE, THE CLUTCH WOULD HAVE TO PROTRUDE OUT OF ITS NORMAL RELATIVE POSITION BY ABOUT .20 INCHES. HEAVY OXIDATION OBSCURED THE POTENTIAL RELATIVE RUNNING POSITION MARKINGS BETWEEN THE INNER & OUTER RACES.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM DISCONNECT, AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & SUBSEQUENT INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN IN A HILLY DESERT AREA. THIS WAS THE THIRD & LAST IN A PLANNED SERIES OF MARKETING DEMO FLTS CONDUCTED FOR THREE USMC OFFICERS. DURING THE POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF OVER-RUNNING CLUTCH COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT THE CAGES & SPRAGS WERE BOUND UP IN THEIR NORMAL ENGAGED POSITIONS. TWO OF THE THREE DRAG STRIPS WERE OBSERVED TO HAVE ABRASION SIGNATURES ACROSS THEIR ENTIRE WIDTH OF .07 INCHES; THE ABRASION AREAS GENERALLY MATCHED THE GEOMETRY OF THE ADJACENT BALL BEARING RACE. EXAMINATION OF ENGINEERING DRAWINGS FOR THE CLUTCH REVEALED THAT FOR THE DRAG STRIP TO CONTACT THE ADJACENT BEARING RACE, THE CLUTCH WOULD HAVE TO PROTRUDE OUT OF ITS NORMAL RELATIVE POSITION BY ABOUT .20 INCHES. HEAVY OXIDATION OBSCURED THE POTENTIAL RELATIVE RUNNING POSITION MARKINGS BETWEEN THE INNER & OUTER RACES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:57 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN58369
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C20B · Turboshaft · 420
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 37 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 5 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data