# NTSB SEA90LA135: Hughes 369D, N58239, Toutle, WA, July 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1990, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Toutle, WA
- Coordinates: 46.310577, -122.69033 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3106&lon=-122.6903&mi=10
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41239
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41239/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA135

## 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

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

- Roll over, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58239-1995-07-19), registration cancelled 1995-07-19, S/N 1280392D (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 369-0392D
- Airframe hours: 361
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900713031429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900713031429A), Jul 13, 1990: Hughes 369D, Toutle, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported forced landing in mt crater. No defects found. Passengers report planned landing. Hit rocks rolled.

## Other investigations on N58239 (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA87LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87LA007), Oct 10, 1986: Hughes 500-D (N58239), Seattle, WA, substantial damage

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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