# NTSB LAX91LA162: Hughes 369D, N1109Q, Yerington, NV, April 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1991, 08:51 local (15:51 UTC)
- Place: Yerington, NV
- Coordinates: 38.870292, -119.139884 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8703&lon=-119.1399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27162/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA162

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND RATE OF DESCENT ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ROTOR RPM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLARE.  THE DITCH WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER.  ONE OF THE PASSENGERS REPORTED THE LANDING APPROACH WAS FAST.  A NOISE WAS HEARD AS THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT FOR LANDING.  THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY ACTIVATION OF THE LOW RPM WARNING SYSTEM.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED A DITCH AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1109Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1100 854D
- Airframe hours: 1434
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hilton, Barron
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1991, 7 hours before
- Departed: YERINGTON, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 31,300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NFL, 33 nm away

## 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 19910407009169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910407009169A), Apr 7, 1991: Hughes 369D, Yerrington, NV, Substantial damage. Allowed rotor RPM decay. Hard landing in ditch. Rolled over. Record of poor skill in type. No mechanical defects.

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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