Hughes 369D N58261
12 December 1988 · Kountze, Texas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 12 December 1988 at about 20:18 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N58261, operated by Gradney Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Kountze, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:18
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kountze, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.3692, -94.3097
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- N58261
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gradney Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW89DRA01
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FALSE INDICATIONS OF THE FUEL QUANTITY SYSTEM, WHICH LED THE PILOT TO BELIEVE HA HAD MORE FUEL THAN HE DID.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED TO DISPENSE FERTILIZER FROM A BUCKET ON A LINE. WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PLT TRIED TO DROP THE BUCKET, BUT IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BUCKET & LINE BECAME TANGLED IN TREES & THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE FRONT END OF THE LEFT SKID. THE TAILBOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF & THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING THE FLT, HE NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE READING SEEMED TO STAY AT ABOUT 120 LBS, BUT HE DID NOT SUSPECT A PROBLEM, SINCE HE HAD NEVER HAD A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE GAUGE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1988 | Hughes 369D | Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States | CNG Transmission Corp | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 1988 | Hughes 369E | Hanalei, Hawaii, United States | Kauai Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 1988 | Hughes 369HS | Columbia, California, United States | Inter Mountain Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1988 | Hughes 369D | Kitoi Bay, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1988 | Hughes 369HS | Ashland, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 1988 | Hughes 369D | Horn Lake, Mississippi, United States | Denver Helicopter | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1988 | Aero Commander 100-180 | Mineola Quitman, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1988 | Piper PA-28-235 | Littlefield, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1988 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1988 | Beechcraft V35B | Temple, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 1988 | Bellanca 17-30A | Borger, Texas, United States | J & W Operating Co. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jan 1988 | Cessna 152 | Tomball, Texas, United States | Merri Worth Aviation | Minor injuries | - |