# NTSB DEN79FTE19: Hughes 500D, N8306F, Marble, CO, January 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 21, 1979
- Place: Marble, CO · MARBLE, CO
- Location: 39.0717° N, 107.1907° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marble, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0717&lon=-107.1907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FTE19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FTE19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0324  79/1/21  NR.MARBLE,CO          HUGHES 500D         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 2660
        TIME - 0950                    N8306F              PX-  0  0  2  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 98 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CRESTED BUTTE,CO           MARBLE,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  TAXI: AERIAL TAXI TO/FROM LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WHITEOUT
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        REMARKS- COMPANY FLT FOLLOWING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8306F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8306F), registered now, S/N 380274D, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500D
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (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 19790121001309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790121001309A), Jan 21, 1979: Hughes 369, Marble, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot lost ground reference due to snow white-out caused by rotors during landing approach.

## Other investigations on N8306F (4)

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 SEA99LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA082), Jun 8, 1999: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Southbend, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The complete loss of power, due to a failure of the compressor impeller disk. Factors include the low altitude of the helicopter at the time of the power loss, and the need to autorotate in a…
- [NTSB SEA97LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA118), May 21, 1997: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Moclips, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate installation of the fuel control by company maintenance personnel and a loose nut on a line. A disconnected Pc line was a factor.
- [NTSB SEA90LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA081), May 21, 1990: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Kelso, WA, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO KEEP THE EXTERNAL LOAD CLEAR OF OBSTACLES (TREES). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT AND GROUND CREWMAN TO FOLLOW SAFETY PROCEDURES, AND THE PROXIMITY…
- [NTSB SEA85LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA053), Feb 4, 1985: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Taholah, WA, destroyed

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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