# Accident 20230709009939A: Hughes 369D, Waldorf, MD, July 9, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 9, 2023, 10:27 local time
- Place: Waldorf, MD
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: HXFL
- Location: 38.6175° N, 77.0011° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6175&lon=-77.0011&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5027P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5027P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20B (registry code 03081, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA293) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230709009939A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT RECOVERING FROM POWER LINE SURVEY COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TO INDIAN HEAD, MD (2W5), DUE TO INCOMING WEATHER SYSTEM. APPROXIMATELY 6 MI SE OF ADW AND 4 NM FROM DESTINATION HEARD LOUD BANG, EXPERIENCED A LEFT YAW AND DETERMINED THAT AN ENGINE LOSS OF POWER OR FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. DURING AUTOROTATION FLARE, TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED POND SHORT OF FENCE. AUTOROTATION TERMINATED ON FENCE. MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN AND CUT OFF TAIL BOOM. ALL PASSENGERS EVACUATED AIRCRAFT WITH MINOR INJURIES. LANDING WAS NOT "HARD" - SKIDS WERE NOT SPREAD. SUBSEQUENT REVIEW OF DOOR BELL CAMERA VIDEO FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SEEMS TO INDICATE ENGINE PRODUCING NOISE DURING AUTOROTATION. ENGINE RUN AND SUBSEQUENT TEAR-DOWN WAS INCONCLUSIVE.

## 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 ERA23LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA293), Jul 9, 2023: Hughes 369D (N5027P), Waldorf, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fatigue failure of the overrunning clutch outer race and a subsequent inflight loss of power due to abnormal bending loads as a result of improper reassembly of the clutch subassembly following…

## Other reports on N5027P (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19940828023729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940828023729A), Aug 28, 1994: Hughes 369D (N5027P), Butler, PA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Autorotated. Low rotor RPM to reach open area. Hard landing. Main rotors chopped tailboom. Out of fuel.

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.