On August 31, 1983, a Hughes 369D (registration N5007G) was involved in an aviation accident near Shandon, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter made a hard landing during autorotation after the pilot reported an engine failure at about 50 feet AGL, 15 minutes after takeoff. Post-accident engine tests showed it met new engine specifications.
Incident Overview
Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, a helicopter experienced a reported engine failure at about 50 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot subsequently performed an autorotation, during which the helicopter made a hard landing.
Post-Accident Investigation
Following the incident, the engine was inspected at Long Beach. It was test-run while installed in the aircraft and later placed in a test cell for additional evaluation. Results from these tests indicated that the engine met the specifications of a new engine.
Component Testing
All tests conducted on the aircraft and engine components were satisfactory. No anomalies were noted that would preclude normal operation of the aircraft or engine.