# Accident 20020916027609A: Hughes 369D, O'Neill, NE, September 16, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2002, 22:45 local time
- Place: O'Neill, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4858° N, 98.6456° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4858&lon=-98.6456&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500EK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500EK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 (registry code 03080, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA285) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020916027609A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2002, AT 2145 CDT ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM HARVARD, IL, TO HIS CABIN IN IDAHO, THE PIC EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHILE IN FLIGHT. HE STATED HE AUTOROTATED TO A FIELD NNW OF O'NEILL, NEBRASKA. UPON HIS FLARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AUTOROTATION, AND DUE TO THE TIME BEING AT NIGHT WITH NO HORIZONTAL REFERENCE, HE RAN OUT OF ROTOR SPEED AND SETTLED DOWN WITH A HARD LANDING. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN TRANSCENDED THE TAILBOOM, CUT THE TAILROTOR, DRIVESHAFT, TAILBOOM, AND GEARBOX OFF. THE MAIN CABIN ALSO RECEIVED DAMAGE WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE, DAMAGED AFTER HITTING TAILBOOM, WAS BENT AND TWISTED DOWN, HITTING THE MAIN CABIN AND RIGHT-HAND CREW DOOR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI02LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA285), Sep 17, 2002: Hughes 369D (N500EK), O'Neill, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to turbine blade separation as a result of hot corrosion damage to the turbine blades. Contributing to the accident was the pilot misjudging the flare at the completion of…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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