# NTSB DEN78FTE41: Hughes 500C, N9137F, Lasalle, CO, March 17, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 17, 1978
- Place: Lasalle, CO · LASALLE, CO
- Location: 40.3487° N, 104.7061° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of La Salle, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3487&lon=-104.7061&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FTE41
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTE41

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0393  78/3/17    LASALLE,CO          HUGHES 500C         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1240                    N9137F              PX-  0  0  1  SEARCH AND RESCUE         AGE 40, 6400 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            2453 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FT COLLINS,CO               LASALLE,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- EMERGENCY RESCUE.HIT WATER TOWER WHILE HOVERING WITH ONE SKID ON LADDER.WITNESSES RPTD WIND GUSTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9137F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9137F-1979-06-28), registration cancelled 1979-06-28, S/N 330457S (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500C
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780317003769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780317003769A), Mar 17, 1978: Hughes 369HS, Lasalle, CO, Substantial damage. Emergency rescue. Hit water tower while hovering with one skid on er. Witnesses rptd wind gusts.

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.

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