Hughes 369D accident near Nome, Alaska, July 11, 2004
On July 11, 2004 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered CGLHQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nome, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while the helicopter was standing, which resulted in the coasting main rotor blade contacting the tail boom. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2004 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Nome, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- CGLHQ · no longer on the register · serial 1150D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial helicopter pilot said he landed on a ridge where he had landed several times that day. He said he shut down the engine, and was applying the main rotor brake when a gust of wind lifted the forward blades, which allowed the aft moving blades to strike the tail boom. The pilot said there had been a steady 20 knot wind blowing at the site all day, but there were no problems with wind gusts on the previous landings. The main rotor blades and tail boom were damaged during the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all; 1,350 in this make and model; 1,420 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250C-20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Prism Helicopters LTD
The flight
- Departed from: PAOM Nome AK at 11:00 am
- Destination: Nome AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under CGLHQ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.