- Date
- May 17, 1988, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chemult, OR
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5258CHughes 369E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 7, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880517014939A
- Case key
- 40819
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to takeoff with a density altitude of 6,300 feet. The aircraft was operated near its maximum gross weight limitation. 150 feet from the initial takeoff the helicopter rotor stirred up dust and debris from a road, causing the pilot to lose visual reference with the ground. The helicopter's main rotor blade struck a tree and the helicopter rolled to its left side.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5258C
- Reported as
- Hughes 369E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 182E
- Airframe hours
- 5,710
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 375 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- W I D Industries, Inc.
- Registered owner
- W.T.D. Industries
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 15, 1987 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- Chemult, OR
- Destination
- 4S7 · Malin, OR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,365 total · 203 in this make and model · 4,076 as pilot in command · 92 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.