# NTSB investigations: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR26FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA054.md): Hughes 369D · Pryor, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Dec 5, 2025 · N161LA · Substantial damage
  > On December 5, 2025, about 0858 central standard time, a Hughes 369D, N161LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pryor, Oklahoma. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…
- [NTSB CEN25FA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA307.md): Hughes 369D · West Alton, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 7, 2025 · N173AL · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter clearance from the powerline during the powerline maintenance operation for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB ANC24LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA016.md): Hughes 369D · Hana, HI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 20, 2024 · N690WA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to ensure the passenger’s gear was properly secured before departure.
- [NTSB WPR23LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA063.md): Hughes 369D · La Sal, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 8, 2022 · N458HW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a toe-in landing to sloping terrain which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB ANC21LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA003.md): Hughes 369 · Honolulu, HI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 27, 2020 · N58251 · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power due to an obstructed fuel line as a result of the separation of the circlip from the pin used on the fuel start pump. The reason for the circlip separation could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB ERA20LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA160.md): Hughes 369 · Pylesville, MD · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 25, 2020 · N9159F · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of unporting of the fuel tank supply pickup while the helicopter was maneuvered to move a conductor wire. Contributing to the accident was the helicopter’s inappropriate configuration for the type of…
- [NTSB ERA19FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA118.md): Hughes 369 · Talking Rock, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 5, 2019 · N89ZC · Substantial damage
  > A fatigue failure of the overrunning clutch subassembly due to abnormal bending loads due to cracks on the center engine mount, which resulted in an inflight loss of power. Contributing to the accident was the helicopter's low altitude and airspeed when the…
- [NTSB WPR18FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA188.md): Hughes 369 · Majuro · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 4, 2018 · N8648F · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance above the surface of the ocean.
- [NTSB CEN18LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA121.md): Hughes 369D · Blair, WI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 7, 2018 · N499SL · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to recognize and compensate for hazards during the external load operation, which led to a collision between a lineman (external load) and a powerline.
- [NTSB WPR18CA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18CA100.md): Hughes 369D · Pacific Ocean, Marshall Islands · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 19, 2018 · N501VS · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight mechanical malfunction with the helicopter, which necessitated a ditching in the ocean. The reason for the malfunction could be determined because the helicopter sank and was not recovered.
- [NTSB WPR18FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA074.md): Hughes 369D · Pomeroy, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 27, 2018 · N369TH · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control following the gunner's failure to ensure that the net maintained clearance from the tail rotor.
- [NTSB WPR17FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA021.md): Hughes 369 · Pukoo, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2016 · N81GG · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions at night in rain, which resulted in his geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR16LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA032.md): Hughes 369D · Carlisle, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 24, 2015 · N50713 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the improper calibration of the fuel quantity gauge.
- [NTSB ERA16LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA030.md): Hughes 369D · Marion, SC · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 30, 2015 · N920JP · Substantial damage
  > A momentary jam in the tail rotor control system from an undetermined source, resulting in a torsional fracture of the tail rotor control torque tube and a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB CEN14LA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA398.md): Hughes 369D · West Liberty, OH · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2014 · N89ZC · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power, which resulted from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the fuel quantity during the flight.
- [NTSB WPR14LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA308.md): Mdhi 369D · Oso, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 2014 · N5225C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot/mechanic’s failure to properly perform required inspections of the main rotor blades at the necessary intervals, which resulted in an in-flight separation of a main rotor blade due to disbonding and fatigue cracking. Contributing to the accident was…
- [NTSB ANC13LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13LA074.md): Hughes 500D · Delta Junction, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 6, 2013 · N134SH · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated an emergency hovering autorotation, during which the helicopter impacted trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA13LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA344.md): Hughes 369D · Center Point, WV · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2013 · N31HM · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB CEN13CA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA281.md): Hughes 369D · Camdenton, MO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 15, 2013 · N725M · Substantial damage
  > The piece of wood/tree that contacted the main rotor blade during the low altitude tree-trimming flight.
- [NTSB WPR13CA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA057.md): Hughes 369D · Sheridan, OR · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 27, 2012 · N163PJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to prevent the helicopter from entering a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the truck.
- [NTSB CEN13FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA075.md): Hughes 369 · Childress, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2012 · N28MP · Substantial damage
  > The improper maintenance of the helicopter fuel system that resulted in erroneous fuel gauge indications and the pilot’s inadequate fuel management, both of which resulted in fuel exhaustion during a long-line hover. Also causal was the lack of company…
- [NTSB ERA13LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA057.md): Hughes 369D · Corning, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2012 · N369AW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate altitude while conducting a power line aerial observation flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision with wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of total experience in the type of operation.
- [NTSB ANC11IA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11IA059.md): Hughes 500D · McGrath, AK · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2011 · N315SH · Minor damage
  > A fatigue fracture of the governor-to-fuel control Pc line, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR11LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA048.md): MD Helicopter 369D · Salem, OR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2010 · N155PH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance between the longline and trees, which resulted in the longline snagging a tree and then recoiling into the main rotor blades and a subsequent loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB WPR09LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA144.md): MD Helicopter 369D · Trona, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 7, 2009 · N501EF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing in a high density altitude environment due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- [NTSB ERA09LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA031.md): Hughes 369D · Carroll Township, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 30, 2008 · N606AS · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to the improper assembly of the compressor discharge tubes to the combustion liner.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('4470706')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '470' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence?model=4470706

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