Plane Crash List

Hughes 369D N58239

13 July 1990 · Toutle, Washington, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 13 July 1990 at about 19:25 local time, a Hughes 369D registered N58239 was involved in an accident near Toutle, Washington, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 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 19:25
Classification
Accident
Location
Toutle, Washington, United States
Coordinates
46.3106, -122.6903
Aircraft
Hughes 369D
Registration
N58239
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
19 Mile House → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
SEA90LA135

People

2 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
5 0 0 2 3

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Hughes 369 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
15 Apr 1990 Hughes 369HS
N9138F
Junction, Texas, United States Neveri, Inc. No injuries -
26 Mar 1990 Hughes 369E
N5189K
Buford, Georgia, United States Gwinnett County Board of Comm No injuries -
4 May 1990 Hughes 369C
N9219F
Kahului, Hawaii, United States Alex Air No injuries -
11 May 1990 Hughes 369E
N5217N
Firebaugh, California, United States - No injuries -
2 Jun 1990 Hughes 369HS
N436DS
Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States Charles Bella Serious injuries -
24 May 1990 Hughes 369FF
N530R
Madera, California, United States Rogers Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -

All 613 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Jan 1990 Cessna 177B
N35000
Friday Harbor, Washington, United States - No injuries -
4 Feb 1990 Bell 206B
N49573
Winthrop, Washington, United States - No injuries -
1 Mar 1990 Bell BH-47G3B2
N4073G
Des Moines, Washington, United States Richard H. Butz Minor injuries -
25 Feb 1990 Cessna 140
N2197V
Vancouver, Washington, United States Bogar, Floyd No injuries -
12 Mar 1990 Cessna 150J
N5559G
Graham, Washington, United States - No injuries -
12 Mar 1990 Bell 206
N678KG
Cougar, Washington, United States Bluebird Helicopter No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States