- Date
- July 13, 1990, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place
- Toutle, WA
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Aircraft
- N58239Hughes 369D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 16, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900713031429A
- Case key
- 41239
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper planning/decision by operating and maneuvering the heliocpter in a regime where he could not maintain rotor RPM. The high density altitude and rough terrain were related factors.
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 Hughes 369D collided with terrain after maneuvering within the crater at mt st helens. The pilot stated that he had an indication of an engine-out warning, and initiated an autorotation. Both rear seat passengers observed volcanic ash coming in their windows just before the crash. They and a third passenger stated that the pilot had been planning on landing in the crater as requested by the fourth passenger. The powerplant had to be shut down after the crash landing. During a post-acdnt check, the eng operated satisfactorily.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N58239
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 369-0392D
- Airframe hours
- 361
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 375 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fly Wright Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 10, 1990 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · 19 Mile House, WA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 300 in this make and model · 5,715 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N58239 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.