# Accident 20080719841239A: Hughes 369D, Price, UT, July 19, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2008, 15:40 local time
- Place: Price, UT
- Airport: Carbon County Regional/Buck Davis
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6161° N, 110.7628° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6161&lon=-110.7628&mi=10
- Aircraft: N400BE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400BE-2013-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08FA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA233) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080719841239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 07/19/08 AT 1540 MDT A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER N400BE IMPACTED THE GROUND WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE JUST AFTER TAKING OFF FROM CARBON COUNTY AIRPORT, PRICE UT. THE PART 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT HAD ORGINATED EARLIER FROM A FISHING TRIP ON THE GREEN RIVER. THE HELICOPTER LANDED AT PRICE AT APROX 1515 MDT WITH A SECOND HELO. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD THE HELO SERVICED WITH 20 GALLONS OF FUEL. AT THIS TIME ONE PASSENGER A 11 YEAR OLD MALE DEPLANED AND SWAPPED WITH AN ADULT MALE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SON. AT 1540 BOTH HELO'S DEPARTED PRICE, IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION INTO THE WIND. THE OTHER PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER BEING AIRBOURNE THE HUGHES TURNED NORTH, DOWNWIND, TO RETURN SPANISH FORK, UT, AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SINK. THE PILOT OF THE SECOND HELO LOST SIGHT OF N400BE AND DID NOT SEE THE CRASH. N400BE CRASHED .7 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, HEADING IN A NORTH WEST DIRECTION, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND SKIDS FIRST AND CATAPULTED 17 FEET LANDING INVERTED ON THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD. THERE WAS AN INTENSE POST CRASH FIRE THAT CONSUMED MOST OF THE WRECKAGE. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED. FIELD ELEVATION AT PRICE 5700 FT, TEMPERATURE WAS 93 DEGREES, DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9330 FT. NO PREFLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED.

## 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 LAX08FA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA233), Jul 19, 2008: Hughes 369D (N400BE), Price, UT, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight performance planning for the takeoff and the loading that exceeded the lift performance capability of the helicopter.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.