NTSB investigations: Hughes 369HS

8 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Hughes 369HS, where the first occurrence was “Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19852026

NTSB investigations: Hughes 369HS per year, 1985–2026: 8 cases
1985	1
1986	1
1989	1
1990	1
1991	1
1999	1
2000	1
2005	1

Where

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Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('4470728') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 130)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('4470728')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 130))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('4470728')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 130))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB DEN05TA119Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportHughes 369HS · Albuquerque, NMthe bullet(s), which severed the helicopter's left tail rotor pedal. Contributing factors were the severed anti-torque pedal and the unsuitable terrain for landing.Aug 6, 2005 · N500SD · Substantial damage NTSB LAX00LA103Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369HS · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)An unknown mechanical malfunction that resulted in a precautionary landing at sea and the subsequent sinking of the helicopter by an ocean swell.Feb 14, 2000 · N717ST · Destroyed NTSB LAX99LA253Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369HS · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)The removal of the tail rotor blade abrasion strips by the use of an unapproved method by the maintenance personnel which resulted in the imbalance of the tail rotor blade assembly and subsequent separation of the 90-degree gear box; the pilot/mechanic's…Jun 7, 1999 · N4278M · Destroyed NTSB LAX91LA172Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369C · Papua, Papua New GuineaThe loss of control of the helicopter due to a restriction of the cyclic control system.Apr 2, 1991 · N9227F · Destroyed NTSB NYC90LA125Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369HS · Brookville, PAWorn tail rotor pitch control assembly, due to improper maintenance/installation, and subsequent fatigue failure of the tail rotor swashplate.Jun 5, 1990 · N8315F · Destroyed NTSB NYC90FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369HS · North Adams, MAFailure of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to assure proper rotor RPM and proper operation of the flight controls during an approach in gusty wind conditions. A factor related to the accident was: the pic's lack of experience in the type of operation.Nov 15, 1989 · N9208F · Destroyed NTSB CHI86LA219Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 500 (369HS) · West Lafayette, INThe helicopter was at a low altitude hover video taping an athletic event when the aft flex coupling on the tail rotor failed. The plt was unable to regain control and during descent the main rotor blades struck the roof of a residence. The helicopter then…Sep 6, 1986 · N2254X · Destroyed NTSB DEN85FA180Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369HS · Keystone, SDMain rotor hub was overhauled by a repair station that was not authroized by Hughes helicopters for hub overhauls. The main rotor hub and blades separated in-flt 279 hrs after overhaul. The acft crashed in a densily wooded area. Post accident exam of the main…Jul 6, 1985 · N5410W · Destroyed