On March 25, 1983, a Hughes 369D (registration N9589F) was involved in an aviation accident near Rancho Bernardo, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter crashed during a left pedal turn while hovering about 10 feet AGL with a left quartering tailwind gusting to 10 knots. The pilot reported loss of directional control and no preimpact malfunction was found.
Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that while hovering at approximately 10 feet above ground level (AGL) with a left quartering tailwind of 5 knots gusting to 10 knots, he attempted a left pedal turn. According to the pilot, the helicopter began to turn to the right despite his application of additional left pedal. He then rolled the throttle off and attempted to land, but the helicopter continued turning to the right and subsequently crashed.
Pilot Recollections
The pilot recalled hearing the low rotor RPM warning horn but did not remember seeing the low RPM warning light. He also did not recall hearing any unusual noises or feeling any unusual vibrations before impact.
Examination Findings
An examination of the helicopter and damaged components was conducted. No preimpact malfunction or failure of the engine, airframe, or flight control system was found.