# NTSB DEN80FTC12: Hughes 369D, N49667, Chugwater, WY, April 9, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 9, 1980
- Place: Chugwater, WY · CHUGWATER, WY
- Location: 41.7557° N, 104.8229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chugwater, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7557&lon=-104.8229&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130908
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FTC12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTC12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1353   80/4/9  NR.CHUGWATER,WY       HUGHES 369D         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 1125
        TIME - 0750                    N49667              PX-  0  0  0  CONSTRUCTION              TOTAL HOURS, 72 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CHUGWATER,WY                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
        REMARKS- WHILE STRINGING WIRE FM TALL TWR,STEEL CABLE WAS DRAWN UP THRU MAIN ROTOR BLADES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49667](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49667-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 1260067D (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Registry model: [Hughes 500D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-500d) (registry code 4470806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800409008229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800409008229A), Apr 9, 1980: Hughes 369D, Chugwater, WY, Destroyed. Helicopter started to pull external load wire. Ground crew inadvertently put on tension. Wire hit rotors.

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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