Hughes 369HS N436DS
2 June 1990 · Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 2 June 1990 at about 00:15 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N436DS, operated by Charles Bella, was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. 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 00:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.2207, -106.9899
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS
- Registration
- N436DS
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Charles Bella
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- El Paso → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN90LA121
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A LOSS OF POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN CAUSE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ALTITUDE, FOLLOWING PICKUP OF A PASSENGER FROM A REMOTE MOUNTAIN SITE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT CONDUCTED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. ON LANDING, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND CAME TO REST FACING UP SLOPE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WERE MEDICACED TO MEDICAL FACILITIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THERE WAS NO FIRE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 1990 | Hughes 369HS | Junction, Texas, United States | Neveri, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1990 | Hughes 369E | Buford, Georgia, United States | Gwinnett County Board of Comm | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1990 | Hughes 369C | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Alex Air | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1990 | Hughes 369E | Firebaugh, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 May 1990 | Hughes 369FF | Madera, California, United States | Rogers Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 May 1990 | Hughes 369D | Kelso, Washington, United States | - | Fatal | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1990 | Cessna 172RG | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Coronado Air Center | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1990 | Cessna 150J | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | West Mesa Flying Assoc. Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C | Truth/Consequen, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1990 | Buchanan S1-S | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1990 | Stinson 108 | Clovis, New Mexico, United States | Young, Richard G. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1990 | Cessna 172 | Grants, New Mexico, United States | Kirtland AFB Aero Club (Usaf) | No injuries | - |