Hughes 500D accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, August 6, 2013
On August 6, 2013 at about 2:05 am local time, a Hughes 500D (helicopter), registered N134SH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Delta Junction, Alaska. It was an external-load flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which necessitated an emergency hovering autorotation, during which the helicopter impacted trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2013 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 500D
- Registration
- N134SH · no longer on the register · serial 610969D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External-load flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was transporting sections of water hose to a remote site via a 100-ft-long external load line that was attached to the helicopter’s belly-mounted cargo hook. While the helicopter was hovering about 100 ft over the intended site and about 5 to 10 ft above trees while facing into a hill, the engine lost all power. The pilot then initiated an emergency hovering autorotation and turned the helicopter left in an attempt to face it downhill. Subsequently, the helicopter settled into trees, during which the main rotor blades impacted several of them, followed by it impacting terrain hard and rolling onto its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor drive system, tailboom, and fuselage. During a postaccident examination, about 60 lbs of fuel were drained from the helicopter’s fuel cell; thus, fuel exhaustion did not cause the loss of power. During an engine test-run, the engine produced full-rated power at various power settings. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 19,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,807 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce M250-C20B (turboshaft); 10,625 hours total
- Operator: Soloy Helicopters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Delta Junction AK
- Destination: Delta Junction AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PABI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
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.