# NTSB DEN82FTE23: Hughes 369D, N5014F, Meredith, CO, August 13, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1982, 18:15 local (Aug 13, 1982, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Meredith, CO
- Location: 39.3630° N, 106.7300° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Meredith, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3630&lon=-106.7300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71663
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FTE23
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71663/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FTE23

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE HE WAS OVER STEEP WOODED TERRAIN. HE SPOTTED A CLEARING, BUT HAD TO USE RESIDUAL RPM TO CLEAR TREES DURING THE APPROACH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN AND SUBSEQUENT TESTS OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A POWER LOSS OR FLAMEOUT. ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 7000 FT MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5014F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 988D
- Airframe hours: 510
- Engines: ALLISON 250 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vertecare
- Registered owner: Vertecare
- Departed: MEREDITH, CO
- Destination: MEREDITH, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,240 total, 1,115 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 242 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 162 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19820812037879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820812037879A), Aug 12, 1982: Hughes 369D, Meredith, CO, Substantial damage. Loud bang and flameout. Headed for a clearing. Engine started on autorotation flare, too late to prevent impact.

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.

---
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.