Hughes 369D CGKHR
11 October 1991 · Hyder, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 October 1991 at about 21:00 local time, a Hughes 369D registered CGKHR, operated by Vancouver Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Hyder, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was 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 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hyder, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 55.9703, -130.0407
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- CGKHR
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Vancouver Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA92LA011
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR HUB ASSEMBLY. FACTORS INCLUDE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND HIGH VEGETATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HUGHES 369D WAS RETURNING TO A LOAD PICK UP POINT WHEN THE PILOT FELT AND HEARD A VIBRATION, WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT ROLLED BACK THE POWER, AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. AS HE INCREASED POWER AND COLLECTIVE, TO MANEUVER FOR THE FLARE, HE HEARD TWO LOUD BANGS COME FROM THE TAIL ROTOR AREA. THIS WAS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY AN UNCONTROLLED ROTATION OF THE AIRFRAME. HE ATTEMPTTED TO APPLY FULL UP COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, BUT HIT THE TERRAIN WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1991 | Hughes 369 | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Apr 1991 | Hughes 369D | Yerington, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1991 | Hughes 369C | Papua, Papua New Guinea | Sardina & Cileu MGT. Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1991 | Hughes 369D | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Florida Marine Patrol | No injuries | - |
| 5 May 1991 | Hughes 369HS | Keanae, Hawaii, United States | Gerardin Corp. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Sep 1991 | Hughes 369D | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-20 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Hickok, Bruce D. | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1991 | David K Maxwell MAX-1 | Sutton, Alaska, United States | Stanley R. Dapkus | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172G | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Larry M. Driskill | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1991 | Champion 7EC | Eagle River, Alaska, United States | Robert C. Bischoff | No injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1991 | Cessna 206 | Homer, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-18-150 | Tatitlek, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |